Chapter 26 - THE NEXT TABLE

Olivia became a mother first.
A son.
Evan.
Megan became an aunt who bought irresponsible science toys.
At one family dinner, Evan dropped pasta onto the floor.
He was four.
He bent to pick it up.
Olivia said:
“Leave it.”
“Why?”
“Floor food goes in trash.”
Megan looked at me.
We both froze for one second.
Then Evan asked:
“Why?”
Olivia answered:
“Because we have more pasta.”
Simple.
No history lesson.
No trauma performance.
Another bowl arrived.
That was all.
Later Megan whispered:
“Do you think Grandma Jessica would hate this?”
I smiled.
“I don’t organize dinner around dead people anymore.”
May you like
She laughed.
Good.