A Viginette

i. The best of days sunshine friendly glorious marigolds scenting up the walkway excitement to see the cousins laughing about crazy memories loving hugs and bat pats ii feeling odd about Michael he did not greet us like the others stood off, alone, a smile did not meet his eyes I remembered his wife’s death and I felt compassion went to him, to see how he was doing he shut me out I blamed him not iii A shriek of delight! they were going through a photo book we looked so silly in our underwear, every bit of it covered in mud dripping off us. I must have been ten or eleven. I caught my cousin Maisey’s eye and we could not stop laughing This went into the silent cousin laugh I had not done this for a long time I felt crazy, and it was good iv. Michael began to talk. it was all dour and down. He wanted us to know his sadness. This changed the atmosphere immediately. I felt resentful. Why had he come? He had ruined it for me. I hated him even more now that I had before And I did not think that was possible. v. Homemade Ice cream after hamburgers I was shocked that we had an electric ice cream maker here Thank god! I was not in the mood to crank I was cranky enough Being with the cousins reminded me that it had not been all bad. Sure I was angry with Michael for years because he had broken my arm