A Cookout with the Girls

Tales of Maria Series : IV

 

 

 

 

Aunt Martha, her mother's sister never got married. But she was a fun sort and Maria always looked forward to her visits. She always brought a gift.

 

This time she bought Maria the Ken and Barbie doll set. Her mother had protested that Maria was too young, but Martha always brushed it aside. ' These kids know more than what you think,' she would respond.

 

They would bake a cake, make a pie, cookies or biscuits on these occasions, then sit on the back porch and have a good chit chat catching-up .

 

The topic  that day turned to the financials. It was never enough. Martha had suggested her father ought to push for more at work. The mother denied that and said he was doing enough. Martha persisted and hinted that her mother had lost some of her edge since getting married. Again the mother protested, saying Martha ought to try marriage and know what she is talking about.

 

Again Martha hinted that her mother ought to push the father more,. The mother shook her head, implying that she couldn't believe she was having this conversation.

 

Maria had sat at the table and imitated the ladies with the way they held the cookies or drank the coffee. From time to time she'll adjust her dress or brush away crumbs from her breast, the way her mother was doing it. Suddenly, she had blurted out.

 

' It's true. Father can do more. He is quite good.'

 

The mother turned to her and the two sisters burst out in laughter. ' Oh, and how do you know that? ' her mother asked playfully.

 

' Do not ask her that? ' her sister had shot back. ' Seriously, Meg, you don't know a thing about kids.'

 

The two sisters looked across at each other for a while. Their gaze went through each other and to their own childhood days a long time ago. Her mother's eyes was slightly moist when she turned to Maria and said, ' I'm sorry honey, I shouldn't have asked you that.'

 

' It's okay,' said Maria. Maria's eyes were just a little anxious but she settled back to normal.