We dropped in on Flo after Peter offered to bring his girls down for an after lunch visit. Once we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve all found a place to sit, this time outside, around back, Peter and I always walk over to Concord Teacakes for coffee and brownies. We drink our coffee and we bring the brownies back and watch them sit uneaten in the white box.<\/p>\n
At Teacakes I ask for a small cup of black while Peter engages the young blond girl – about Matt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s age – behind the counter. On the blackboard, above the counter and behind the teenager\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s head, is a complete list of offerings. <\/p>\n
Something like this:<\/p>\n
Small Latte \/ Cappuccino $1.95
\nMed. Latte \/ Cappuccino $2.95
\nLg. Latte \/ Cappuccino $3.95<\/p>\n
And on and on through regular coffees, cakes, sandwiches, etc. .<\/p>\n
Peter says loudly to the air, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What do I usually get?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
I say to myself, you always ask for a medium latte cappuccino and the befuddled counter girl always asks, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Latte or cappuccino?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Peter scans the board and says, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There it is, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d like a medium latte cappuccino.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/p>\n
Blondie asks, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Which do you want. Latte or cappuccino?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Peter looks back at the board and repeats himself. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Latte cappuccino,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d but then, as always, he catches himself.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Which one has foam?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he asks.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Cappuccino.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll have, and one of every brownie.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
On the way back to Concord Park, as we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re crossing the railroad tracks, Peter asks, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How are you doing?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d As in, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sorry your mom\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s dead, can you get out of bed in the morning? <\/p>\n
Matthew still claims I never answer a question, and this time I try to be direct. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m doing all right. What was it like for you?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m asking about his mother, although I could be asking about his father or Patti. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s easy. Everything they tell you is a lie. It never gets better. I miss Jo like she died yesterday. There are questions I should have asked. There are things I should have done. I wish she was here for the girls. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a real source of comfort.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really mean it. I mean I do. What I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mean is what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s implied in my response. For me it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s comforting to hear honest answers. Like a turkey leg. I may not like it, but it gives me something to chew on. Peter hears what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s implied and blushes.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hey, someone has to give you the other side. . I was watching TV the other day and I saw this advertisement for ending depression in a single day.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153With a forty-five?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I mutter, waiting for him to laugh, but he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t quite hear me. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153In forty-five days? No a single day.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No, with a .45,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Otherwise it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a scam.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We dropped in on Flo after Peter offered to bring his girls down for an after lunch visit. Once we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve all found a place to sit, this time outside, around back, Peter and I always walk over to Concord Teacakes … Continue reading