Standing in a haze of Ma’s new perfume, vanilla fighting flowers, everything adds up. Ma teaching me to do laundry. Showing me how to work the can opener and microwave. Telling me about monthly girl time, making me afraid every bathroom trip—on the lookout for a red bloom that will mean I am a woman, destined to suffer as we all do, she’d said. She leans down and plants a sticky kiss on my forehead. Passion Pink lipstick, also new. Nodding towards my little sisters, Cammy’s full diaper hanging low, Ma says, “When it’s time, do it for the others.”
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Wonderful writing…… sounds like growing up in rural Ireland.
Thanks so much, Mary! I appreciate you reading and your comments!
Nicely done, Kristie! Congrats.
Scott
Thanks so much, Scott!
Beautiful—I got such a clear image of the mother.
Thank you so much, Yolanda! I’m glad she came through well.
The foreshadowing in the ending gave me chills. Well done! I love the imagery of a mother through scents, colors and touch.
Many thanks, Nina! I really appreciate your comments.
I am amazed at how my senses reacted to this. Smelling the vanilla and fresh laundry. Hearing the clicks. Feeling the sticky kiss. I loved it.
Thanks so much, Fang. I’m excited that it felt immersive in the details.
I can’t get the scent of vanilla out of my memory after this. Evocative writing!
Thanks so much, Jodi. I’m sorry to nose worm you with vanilla!
Kristie,
Perfectly captured the generation disfunction I witnessed in Appalachia where defeated, depressed mothers passed their frustrations, anger at their plight, and biases to their children–stunting them emotionally and socially.
Well done!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response, Cathryn. I’m glad it feels authentic, but I’m sorry this is an upbringing some folks have.
Enjoyed the read.. well done…
Thanks so much, Valli!
Maybe it’s because I’m on the older end of the family knowledge chain, but I appreciate the circularity of this story. I remember being the child who learned from the elder and am now the elder who tries to pass things on. Very nicely done!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Gary! The circularity is definitely a central theme in this story.
Evokes so many emotions and memories in such a short passage. You capture generational, gender and social issues in a way that is so relatable. Thank you for writing and sharing.