Grownup Talk

Chapters 8-10 of Snowbirds, a serial novella-in-flash by Margo Rife

We hope you’re enjoying Margo Rife’s serialized novella-in-flash. Go here to start at the beginning. View the table of contents here.

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Up North I would perch on the top step that leads to my bedroom and listen in on the adults. But homes in Florida don’t have stairs so I hide behind the overstuffed floral chair in my aunt’s living room. A palmetto bug keeps watch with me as I sneak a glance into the Florida room where the grownups gather.

I smell smoke when Mother releases a tight steady stream from her cigarette. My aunt’s friend, Mrs. Darfler, pushes the Lalique ash tray in Mother’s direction. It screeches over the glass tabletop.

“Why did he choose drowning? Of all the…?” Mother’s rattan chair creaks when she leans back.

“Was he a Pisces?” asks Mrs. Darfler. The ice in her sweet tea crackles.

“Yes. Pisces.”

Mrs. Darfler snaps shut her Louie Vuitton purse and rises. “Why did he ruin everyone’s vacation?”

Grownup talk is brittle like the tapping painted nails of Mrs. Darfler. Grownup talk is brittle like the palmetto leaves that claw the jalousie windows. Grownup talk is brittle like Mother’s sun-bleached hair. Maybe I’ll hide forever behind my aunt’s chair and grow a hard shell like my bug companion.

My aunt shuffles a deck of cards. “A death by drowning. This will make Lyla grow up.”

Mother responds in a brittle voice, “Once and for all.”