afford the “pick of the chix” these days.
As the onions caramelize and the chicken pieces brown, we enjoy the aroma and chat about car seats and the kind Rawlins chose. The smell of paprika causes me to rejoice. Being a Strong Hungarian Woman does have its advantages. And to be honest, since I so identify with my father, it’s good to have times like this when my love for Mom refreshes itself. Tacy and Mom have always been close.
While the stew bubbles at a low simmer, I begin the stuffed cabbage rolls, again browning the ground pork and beef because King Rawlins declared it should be thus and so, even from henceforth and forevermore, amen.
Then Tacy and I talk about cribs. Then we talk about strollers. Then we talk about baby pouches and should the baby face out from the mother or cuddle into her warmth?
“What does Rawlins say?” I mix the filling and begin to stuff it into the cabbage leaves as Tacy cuts them from the head after it boils in salted water.
“He’s not sure.”
“What? Well, hold on a minute while I write this into my planner for posterity! It’s something I’ll want to remember for years to come—the day Rawlins McGovern wasn’t sure of something!”
Tacy drops her chin and peers up at me between her lashes, perfectly mascaraed, of course. “Come on, Lil, he’s not that bad. You don’t know him the way I do.”
“Thank God, Tace!”
“Oh please. How can I complain? He’s never even so much as raised his voice to me, Lillie. He’s a wonderful provider, and he’s so loving and caring.”
“He controls every move you make.”
She crosses her arms and lays them on her belly, the knife resting on her breast. “You can call it control if you like. I just call it concern.”
“What would happen if you told him you’ll eat what you please, go where you please, and wear what you please?”
She continues slicing. “It just so happens I think he’s right about the food, and I can go wherever I like as long as I tell him. I mean, I don’t want him to worry when I’m gone, do I?”
“Whatever, Tace. As long as you’re happy.”
Her innocent face brightens. “Oh, I am, Lil, really. And with this baby coming—”
“If it doesn’t drown on the way out.”
She laughs, sets down the knife and pulls me as close as she can, considering her belly. “Everything will be fine.” Her fine gold jewelry presses into the flesh of my cheek and I pull back sooner than I want.
Teddy fought for me to be on the boys’ soccer team. We were twelve. I’d begun to mature, and he was still taller than the other boys and still more handsome.
“Look, Coach,” he said that day at the rec field in Churchville. “She can outplay all of us. The girls’ team is hardly challenging. And we can use a wing like her.”
I may be chubby, but I can run.
For some reason, everybody found it hard to say no to Teddy, and so I found myself having the best autumn ever, traveling to games, sharing Slurpees with him and Mrs. Gillie afterward. Everyone at school and in the neighborhood teased us and called us girlfriend and boyfriend, but we didn’t pay them any mind. Until one day as we walked home from the practice field together, Teddy, carrying both of our shoes, said, “Are we too young to be boyfriend/girlfriend?”
“No.”
I’d loved him for years. There could be no other answer.
“We’re only twelve, Lillie.”
“That’s okay.”
And that day, Teddy took my hand and I smiled the entire way home.
Tacy
When I was almost sixteen and anticipating my relationship with Rawlins finally being legal after two years of sneaking around, I could almost taste the relief in my mouth. Sweet sixteen. That was me back then and Rawlins said so too. He would kiss me deeply and mutter, “Ah, you’re so sweet.” I used to love it when he’d explore my mouth like that, like I was something precious to him. Many times I begged him to do more.
“That’s the flesh speaking,” he told me. “God
As the onions caramelize and the chicken pieces brown, we enjoy the aroma and chat about car seats and the kind Rawlins chose. The smell of paprika causes me to rejoice. Being a Strong Hungarian Woman does have its advantages. And to be honest, since I so identify with my father, it’s good to have times like this when my love for Mom refreshes itself. Tacy and Mom have always been close.
While the stew bubbles at a low simmer, I begin the stuffed cabbage rolls, again browning the ground pork and beef because King Rawlins declared it should be thus and so, even from henceforth and forevermore, amen.
Then Tacy and I talk about cribs. Then we talk about strollers. Then we talk about baby pouches and should the baby face out from the mother or cuddle into her warmth?
“What does Rawlins say?” I mix the filling and begin to stuff it into the cabbage leaves as Tacy cuts them from the head after it boils in salted water.
“He’s not sure.”
“What? Well, hold on a minute while I write this into my planner for posterity! It’s something I’ll want to remember for years to come—the day Rawlins McGovern wasn’t sure of something!”
Tacy drops her chin and peers up at me between her lashes, perfectly mascaraed, of course. “Come on, Lil, he’s not that bad. You don’t know him the way I do.”
“Thank God, Tace!”
“Oh please. How can I complain? He’s never even so much as raised his voice to me, Lillie. He’s a wonderful provider, and he’s so loving and caring.”
“He controls every move you make.”
She crosses her arms and lays them on her belly, the knife resting on her breast. “You can call it control if you like. I just call it concern.”
“What would happen if you told him you’ll eat what you please, go where you please, and wear what you please?”
She continues slicing. “It just so happens I think he’s right about the food, and I can go wherever I like as long as I tell him. I mean, I don’t want him to worry when I’m gone, do I?”
“Whatever, Tace. As long as you’re happy.”
Her innocent face brightens. “Oh, I am, Lil, really. And with this baby coming—”
“If it doesn’t drown on the way out.”
She laughs, sets down the knife and pulls me as close as she can, considering her belly. “Everything will be fine.” Her fine gold jewelry presses into the flesh of my cheek and I pull back sooner than I want.
Teddy fought for me to be on the boys’ soccer team. We were twelve. I’d begun to mature, and he was still taller than the other boys and still more handsome.
“Look, Coach,” he said that day at the rec field in Churchville. “She can outplay all of us. The girls’ team is hardly challenging. And we can use a wing like her.”
I may be chubby, but I can run.
For some reason, everybody found it hard to say no to Teddy, and so I found myself having the best autumn ever, traveling to games, sharing Slurpees with him and Mrs. Gillie afterward. Everyone at school and in the neighborhood teased us and called us girlfriend and boyfriend, but we didn’t pay them any mind. Until one day as we walked home from the practice field together, Teddy, carrying both of our shoes, said, “Are we too young to be boyfriend/girlfriend?”
“No.”
I’d loved him for years. There could be no other answer.
“We’re only twelve, Lillie.”
“That’s okay.”
And that day, Teddy took my hand and I smiled the entire way home.
Tacy
When I was almost sixteen and anticipating my relationship with Rawlins finally being legal after two years of sneaking around, I could almost taste the relief in my mouth. Sweet sixteen. That was me back then and Rawlins said so too. He would kiss me deeply and mutter, “Ah, you’re so sweet.” I used to love it when he’d explore my mouth like that, like I was something precious to him. Many times I begged him to do more.
“That’s the flesh speaking,” he told me. “God
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