“big” party, which in actualitywas only a small gathering of our mother’s small-town friends at the shabby old Elks Lodge, where she and my dad used to go dancing on Saturday nights.
Embarrassed by the stodgy steam-table food and dime-store decorations, I attempted to keep my chin up throughout the dismal affair. But once I had Violet alone, I had to inquire if that was the best she could do with my money. Naturally, this resulted in another silent spell between my sister and me—one that lasted for several years.
We didn’t patch that up until Violet’s youngest daughter, my favorite niece, graduated from high school in 1984. And that was only because Abby sent me an invitation herself. She wrote a personal note on it, and her graduation photo was so gorgeous that I just couldn’t help myself. This time I traveled to Silverton alone, driving my brand-new Jag and making a surprise appearance at Abby’s graduation. My plan had been to show up, dressed to the nines of course, and without speaking to my sister, I would present Abby with my gift, which happened to be a pair of absolutely perfect one-carat diamond stud earrings.
Abby was nearly speechless over my generous gift, but she pointed out that her ears were not pierced. “Oh, that’s easily taken care of.” I opened my purse and slipped her a fifty. She squealed, hugged me, and proclaimed me her favorite aunt.
“And you must come down to visit me this summer,” I told her, knowing full well Violet was only a few feet away, wearing a drab little floral dress and bad shoes, and eavesdropping.
“You haven’t been down since you were sixteen,” I continued, “and I had the whole place redecorated last year.” Of course, Abby was thrilled with this idea and insisted I come out to her house and join the family for her celebration. “Grandma is already there,” she said. “She didn’t feel up to coming to the ceremony, but she would flip out if you didn’t come out and see her, Aunt Claudette.”
“Yes,” Violet said, joining us. “Please, do come, Claudette. Mother would be so hurt if you didn’t.”
“You’re sure you have room for one more?” I imagined Violet and Clarence’s small ranch-style house overflowing with guests.
“Of course, we do.” Clarence came over and put an arm around me. “And we won’t take no for an answer.”
We were out in front of the school, and my car, which I’d parked in the loading zone because I was late, was being ticketed.
“What idiot parked his car there?” Violet asked.
I laughed. “That would be me.” I waved my hand. “No matter, the price of the ticket was worth being here on time to see Abby graduating.”
“That’s your car?” exclaimed Abby with wide eyes. “The Jaguar?”
I nodded and grinned, I’m sure, like the Cheshire cat.
“I’m riding with Aunt Claudette,” Abby informed her parents.
Clarence just rolled his eyes and laughed. But I could see the irritation in Violet’s eyes. Or maybe it was hurt. It’s odd the waymemory works. I suppose I’m not really sure how Violet was feeling in that moment. Probably jealous. Clarence and Violet had both been teachers—he at the high school, she at the grade school.
Oh, they pretended to be happy enough in their boring little lives, doing boring little things in a boring little town. Their old house was as frumpy as they were, and they drove even frumpier American cars. Clarence died a few years ago, and Violet went to the only retirement home in the town. I was stunned when I heard that—I couldn’t imagine anyone going to a depressing place like that intentionally. I assumed that meant she had given up completely.
Why am I troubling my mind with all of this now? Really, what is the point? I close my eyes, lean back, and attempt to drift to sleep.
“How are you doing?” Michael asks.
We’re in the car again, after filling up on gas and eating a rather horrible breakfast at a chain restaurant, where the food was
Embarrassed by the stodgy steam-table food and dime-store decorations, I attempted to keep my chin up throughout the dismal affair. But once I had Violet alone, I had to inquire if that was the best she could do with my money. Naturally, this resulted in another silent spell between my sister and me—one that lasted for several years.
We didn’t patch that up until Violet’s youngest daughter, my favorite niece, graduated from high school in 1984. And that was only because Abby sent me an invitation herself. She wrote a personal note on it, and her graduation photo was so gorgeous that I just couldn’t help myself. This time I traveled to Silverton alone, driving my brand-new Jag and making a surprise appearance at Abby’s graduation. My plan had been to show up, dressed to the nines of course, and without speaking to my sister, I would present Abby with my gift, which happened to be a pair of absolutely perfect one-carat diamond stud earrings.
Abby was nearly speechless over my generous gift, but she pointed out that her ears were not pierced. “Oh, that’s easily taken care of.” I opened my purse and slipped her a fifty. She squealed, hugged me, and proclaimed me her favorite aunt.
“And you must come down to visit me this summer,” I told her, knowing full well Violet was only a few feet away, wearing a drab little floral dress and bad shoes, and eavesdropping.
“You haven’t been down since you were sixteen,” I continued, “and I had the whole place redecorated last year.” Of course, Abby was thrilled with this idea and insisted I come out to her house and join the family for her celebration. “Grandma is already there,” she said. “She didn’t feel up to coming to the ceremony, but she would flip out if you didn’t come out and see her, Aunt Claudette.”
“Yes,” Violet said, joining us. “Please, do come, Claudette. Mother would be so hurt if you didn’t.”
“You’re sure you have room for one more?” I imagined Violet and Clarence’s small ranch-style house overflowing with guests.
“Of course, we do.” Clarence came over and put an arm around me. “And we won’t take no for an answer.”
We were out in front of the school, and my car, which I’d parked in the loading zone because I was late, was being ticketed.
“What idiot parked his car there?” Violet asked.
I laughed. “That would be me.” I waved my hand. “No matter, the price of the ticket was worth being here on time to see Abby graduating.”
“That’s your car?” exclaimed Abby with wide eyes. “The Jaguar?”
I nodded and grinned, I’m sure, like the Cheshire cat.
“I’m riding with Aunt Claudette,” Abby informed her parents.
Clarence just rolled his eyes and laughed. But I could see the irritation in Violet’s eyes. Or maybe it was hurt. It’s odd the waymemory works. I suppose I’m not really sure how Violet was feeling in that moment. Probably jealous. Clarence and Violet had both been teachers—he at the high school, she at the grade school.
Oh, they pretended to be happy enough in their boring little lives, doing boring little things in a boring little town. Their old house was as frumpy as they were, and they drove even frumpier American cars. Clarence died a few years ago, and Violet went to the only retirement home in the town. I was stunned when I heard that—I couldn’t imagine anyone going to a depressing place like that intentionally. I assumed that meant she had given up completely.
Why am I troubling my mind with all of this now? Really, what is the point? I close my eyes, lean back, and attempt to drift to sleep.
“How are you doing?” Michael asks.
We’re in the car again, after filling up on gas and eating a rather horrible breakfast at a chain restaurant, where the food was
Similar Books
