“Then why aren’t you asking Grandma what she thinks?”
“Can we stop?”
“We’re discussing practical matters.”
“At her birthday dinner?”
He turned back toward Mom.
They began arguing about repairs and property values again.
Then another aunt raised her voice.
“Mom could die any day now. We need to decide this now!”
They began arguing.
Grandma lowered the serving spoon.
Her eyes filled with tears.
I stood.
“Enough! She’s sitting right here.”
Uncle Colin frowned.
“Sit down, Kylie. You need to know your place!”
Her eyes filled with tears.
Grandma pushed her plate away.
Nobody noticed except me.
I walked into the living room and picked up the wooden box.
***
When I returned, they were still arguing.
I placed the box in the middle of the table.
The noise stopped.
Nobody noticed except me.
Mom recognized it immediately.
“Kylie, what are you doing now?”
I opened the lid.
Inside were six envelopes, a calendar, and an old photograph.
