Page 18 - Solstice Art & Literary Magazine 2021

CONTINUED
“You can’t make fun of her like that!” “I said I’m sorry!”
“Not to Sam.”
Luther bit back a sigh and pried Sam from Pepper. He straightened the doll’s dress. “I’m sorry, Sam. You’re a wonderful playmate
for my daughter.”
Pepper was still frowning. He kissed
Sam on the head and handed it back.
Pepper smiled. “She forgives you.” Luther cleared his throat, looking around
the room again. He’d expected her to be some- what averse to the idea of visiting the neighbors,
He put an arm around her and scoot- ed closer. She was cold and stiff beside him. “I know it’s hard with your mom being gone, but you need to branch out a bit. You love explor- ing; why not explore the Martins’ house?”
Pepper took her time responding. Lu- ther felt like he couldn’t breathe. “Can I make them cookies?”
He sighed with relief, even laughed a bit. “Sure,Pepper.Makeallthecookiesyouwant.”
She jumped up, suddenly alive and an- imated again, like a switch had been flipped. “Thank you, Dad! I’ll make the best cookies in
the world!”
“Be sure to clean up the kitchen—”
Pepper was already gone.
but this was more resistance or planned for. He’d have to I... I know you and Sam are close, and I’d hate to drive you two apart, but it’s okay to have a few more friends.”
“Sam isn’t my only friend.”
“You barely leave the house anymore,” Lu- ther countered, trying a new angle. “You should get outside more.”
“I go so many places, you know that! Sam and I spent all afternoon in Gla- cia, it’s so beautiful—”
than he’d foreseen be careful. “Pepper,
At exactly fifteen minutes before five, Luther knocked on Pepper’s door and told her they were leaving for the Martins’. Ten minutes later, Pepper was standing at the door, cookie tray in hand, paint still in her hair, and wearing a rainbow hoodie with a giant pock- et she’d sewn on with her mother’s help.
A yarn doll was stick- ing out of the pocket. “Pep- per, wha—um, who’s that?”
“Miss
helped make the cookies, so she should get to see the Martins eat them.”
Luther was too tired by then to argue about it, or mention her paint-splattered state. “Let’s go.”
“So is the park on the corner.”
She hugged Sam tighter. It looked more like she was trying to cross her arms without letting go of the doll. “You never want to know
about Glacia.”
Marlene,” Pepper said. “She
LUTHER BIT BACK EVERY DEFENSIVE RETORT THAT ROSE TO HIS MIND, AND THE ONE THOUGHT HE ALWAYS TRIED TO SWALLOW, THE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE HE WAS RIGHT.
BOTAS DE MI RAÍZ • SAMARA JAQUEZ
Acrylic Paint • 20”x16” • Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: Gold Key
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LA MADRE DEL RÍO • SAMARA JAQUEZ
Acrylic Paint • 14”x17”