Page 22 - Vol. VI #8

Bird’s Nest Soup (continued from preceding page) grass skirt of his hula-dancer key chain covers
Jacob sighs “Well just think about it it Renni This thing thing with Ava—she’s going to to believe believe what
she she believes and and there’s nothing you you you can can do
to to to change that Like I I I said—you can’t trust the the memory of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a troubled child It’s It’s not not your fault fault It’s nobody’s fault ”
her her daughter’s name Ren checks the the the answering machine but it is is is is empty She She walks into into the the the living room and slumps into into an an an an an armchair She She wonders where Ava is is is is is what
she she is is is is doing for for Mother’s Day—if she she thinks about her at
all Ren Ren covers
her her her her her face with her her her her her hands She She hears him breathing behind her her her her waiting for for her her her her to to to agree She smells his crab stink Jacob comes in in in in in in leans over to to to to to to kiss her her her her forehead “You okay Honey?”
“Renni I I I know it it it hurts but I I I need you you to to be be strong for me me ”
“She “She didn’t even call ”
”
“I told you you not not to to to to to get get your hopes up You You need to to to to to let this thing go go and and move on on ”
”
”
”
Ren Ren doesn’t answer from under her her hands “Well I I I love you you Happy Mother’s Day ”
”
“She’s my daughter Jacob not not some thing thing to to to brush aside and and forget about about I I I can’t can’t just let let her her her go I I can’t ”
She She hears him shuffle down the the the the hall to his office and shut the door “Yeah well what
about about me? Ava made it it it clear— it’s either me or or her her ”
”
The cuckoo clock Jacob brought back from Germany strikes six the the the the the little bird pops out star- tling her her her her She She spreads her her her her hands and and and stares at
at
it it it it it through her her her her fingers It cocks its its wooden head at
at
her her her her as it it it it it chirps down the the the the hours then slides back back into its home Ren Ren pinches the the the the bridge of her her her her her her nose She closes her her her her her her eyes eyes against the the the the sting “You can’t have your cake and and and and eat it it it it too Ren Ren ”
”
The The tiny clock door snaps shut leaving Ren alone in in in in the the room With her her her her eyes eyes closed she sees him standing there: the the the the way way his his his his his his belly pooches over over his his his his his his brown belt the the the the way way he he he he he he he he he he he smooths his his his his his his hand over over his his his his his his skull and and and and and licks his his his his his his dry lips because he he he he he he he he he he he is is is is is is is is is nervous how how how he he he he he he he he he he he twists his his his his his his mouth mouth mouth to one side Ren knows every inch of that that that mouth mouth mouth how how how it it it it it it smiles and and and and frowns how how how it it it it it it feels feels on on on her her her body what
it it it it it it will say before it it it it it it opens the the effects it it it it it it has long after it it it it it it closes—a mouth mouth mouth that that that is is is is is is is always hungry that that can never get enough Ava Ava Ava The The word flutters inside her head beats against the the stillness She hears him walk up behind her her her her and and and feels feels his his hands massage her her her her back back His thumbs dig into the the knots in in her her her shoulders He says “Listen maybe this is is is is is just empty nest syndrome Maybe you you should should go back back to to to to working with kids—nothing too stressful You You could keep a a a a a a a a a a a a a few kids kids here at
the house I’d help out You You need something to to fill your time ”
Originally from New England Stauff currently resides in in Atlanta Georgia where she lives with her her husband and and and and two children A A former professional musician and and and and singer Heidi is working on on on a a a a a a a a a collection of of short stories and and a a a a a novel Ava Ava Ava Ava My My girl girl My My baby girl girl She bristles and pulls away 13