Page 18 - Vol. VI #8

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very Mother’s Day Ren’s husband takes takes her her her her to
The Golden China Buffet with the the gift certifi- cate her her her her daughter sends This year Jacob Jacob still takes takes her her her but pays out of of of his his his own pocket Age Age has shriveled him him like like the dried apricots he he he snacks on on on on His skin is is is is delicate as as crepe paper around his his eyes and neck Age Age spots map his his balding head like like faded continents Sometimes for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a second Ren Ren doesn’t recognize him him him in in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a crowd still searching for for the the the the the younger version of of him him him when when they first met met Jacob admitted he he he he he he he he he he he he did the the the the the same thing especially when when she let her her hair go gray gray Ren Ren laughs to
herself remembering him him him him poking fun at at at at at the the the the the the the pair of of of them Who’s Who’s that that old bald guy getting getting in in in in in my car? Who’s Who’s that that gray-haired lady getting getting the the mail?
“I’m going up for for more crab legs You want anything?” Jacob Jacob asks pushing his his his plate of of of empty claws to
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the the the edge of of of the the the table for for the the the waitress to
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take take “Oh no I’m I’m stuffed ” ” Ren says “You sure? Gotta get our eight bucks worth ” ” ” ” Jacob laughs and pats his stomach She watches him him run his his his hand over his his his head as as he he he he he he he he he he he he he he waits in in in in in in in in line What’s left of of his his his hair is is is is like the the the the the the the the down fuzz on on the the the the the the baby birds Ava rescued every spring as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a child finding them them fallen from their nests somehow lying naked and and helpless on on the the the the the the the lawn No matter what Ren did she she couldn’t save them them They were too too young too too fragile—blind featherless things with with gaping mouths she she could could never satisfy with with her her homemade formula of bread and milk How Ava cried when they died Jacob Jacob had said It’s nature taking its course Only the the strongest survive “Well maybe one of of those little fried donuts then then ” ” ” ” ” Ren says “If they’re fresh ” ” “Okie-dokie ” ” Jacob slides to
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the the the the the the the edge of of of the the the the the the the booth He takes a a a a a a a a a a a a a a breath then then braces himself with both hands to
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push up up from the the the the the the the seat Ren Ren watches him him him shuffle through the the the the the the the the line The girl in in in front of of of of him him him him reaches under the the the the the the the the glass partition for for the the the the the the chicken broccoli and and her her her shirt rides up up her her her back—a pink triangle of of of of thong peeks out from the the the the the the top of of of of her her her her jeans Ren Ren Ren waits for for him him to
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notice He He does The man behind Jacob heaps food onto a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a plate while holding the the the the arm of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a toddler wearing the the the the same Hello Kitty shirt Ren Ren mailed to
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to
to
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her her her her grand- baby—the one her her her daughter Ava sent back with that that awful note still blaming her her her for for something that that happened happened twenty years ago Ren remembers this as she watches Jacob Jacob drum the the the buffet table with his his his his slender fingers fingers She loves his his his his hands hands even now mottled from sun and and and age They always reminded her of elegant birds— fluttering whenever he he he he he he he he he he he he tells a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a story a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cigarette perched between his his his his fingers fingers or or or cradling a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a long stemmed wine glass Her own hands hands seemed small and and stubby nested in in in in in his his Mom until you you are ready to
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take responsibility for for your part in in in in in what happened happened stop sending me things for for Kaylee She remembers how after Ava’s father left she went dormant and and and cold like the the the geckos Ava Ava tried to
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to
to
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save at at at the the the end of every every summer reserving
all all her her her her her her energy just to
to
to
to
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survive as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a single mom Jacob jolted her her her her her her her awake with with with with his his his his his booming laugh captivated her her her her her her with with with with his his his his his colorful stories—with his his his his his hunger to
to
to
to
to
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know her her her her her her to
to
to
to
to
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consume her her her her her her every every detail with with with with his his his his his sharp mind and those long nimble fingers Wherever they went his his his his his presence filled the the room drawing people to
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him like insects
The The toddler in in in in in in in in in in the the the the the Hello Kitty shirt swings back back and forth in in in in in in in in her her her father’s grip bumping into into the the the the the the back back of of Jacob’s legs almost knocking him into into the the the the the the thong girl Jacob Jacob Jacob turns around The The father father apologizes Jacob Jacob Jacob waves it off stoops to
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to
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pat the the the the the child’s head 9
Bird’s Nest Soup