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First of the Month

August 10, 2022 14 Comments

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Gregorio died three years ago, but in the phone book, Vittoria found a namesake. When her check was returned, she found another. And another and another until her correspondence reached someone who had no qualms with fraud. Drafting the monthly alimony check, curling the round letters of his name, positioning the stamp in the envelope’s corner, and placing that solitary, thin item in the letter box were all parts of a ritualistic penance Vittoria could not cease. The silence from the unscrupulous beneficiary prolonged the punishment Gregorio had long ago imposed for the heartbreak Vittoria had caused, thus keeping him alive.

By Jennifer A Swallow

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chetana Vaishnavi says

    August 10, 2022 at 8:16 am

    Very nicely expressed

    Reply
    • Thomas Cannon says

      August 10, 2022 at 8:41 am

      powerful- so much emotion packed in this.

      Reply
      • Jennifer A Swallow says

        August 10, 2022 at 7:44 pm

        Thank you! I’m glad the emotion came across well.

        Reply
    • Jennifer A Swallow says

      August 10, 2022 at 7:44 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Lauren H. says

    August 10, 2022 at 9:21 am

    Concise yet expressive, I found this very impactful. Well done!

    Reply
    • Jennifer A Swallow says

      August 10, 2022 at 7:43 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
    • Jennifer A Swallow says

      August 10, 2022 at 7:43 pm

      Thank you! I’m glad the emotion came across well.

      Reply
  3. Warner Williams says

    August 10, 2022 at 10:57 am

    More like planned vengeance from the grave. Cool! Three reggae boyz thumbs up.

    Reply
    • Jennifer A Swallow says

      August 10, 2022 at 7:42 pm

      Haha – maybe so!

      Reply
  4. lee says

    August 10, 2022 at 11:02 am

    I like to think the new Gregorio was in dire straits and praying for intervention when she found his name. Well done.

    Reply
    • Jennifer A Swallow says

      August 10, 2022 at 7:42 pm

      I like this interpretation!

      Reply
  5. Ekta Garg says

    August 14, 2022 at 4:11 pm

    I love this idea — keeping someone by intentionally sending someone else with the same name a piece of mail. So well done!

    Reply
  6. Corey says

    August 14, 2022 at 6:13 pm

    Superbly written

    Reply
  7. Justin Teopista Nagundi says

    August 23, 2022 at 10:04 am

    I would send the check back the first time and the second…but the third? Third time is a charm.I would accept that I have a fairy godmother.

    Reply

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