Georgette is a river, she’s a river in the sky.
She rains. She runs off. She flows. She flows away.
She returns the next season, or the next year.
And I haven’t smoked a brisket for more than three months.
***
I answered my phone with a curt “Where are you now?”
“The ocean.”
“I hate the ocean.”
“He’ll be gone for three days.”
“You’ve been gone for three months.”
“Bring your barbecue grill,” she said and hung up.
***
A week later, the voicemail said, “Why didn’t you come? You are too hard on yourself. On me. He’s back. We’ll have you out for a weekend. He has a barbecue grill you can use.
***
Monica said, “Mom builds sand castles in the sky.”
“You have to build them somewhere.”
Monica wiped the barbecue sauce off her chin and said, “I’d build mine at the bottom of the ocean.”
“It’s as good a place as any.”
***
I gathered her umbrellas and put them in the garage. A season or two–or a year or two–will pass before she needs them again.
The cistern is full and can keep the herb garden irrigated in her absence.
There’s much to cook–much to eat–in her absence, and upon her return.
Time, temperature, and technique apply as much to rivers and sand castles as to culinary creations.
***
“You’re my moat,” she said once, and only once.
“I protect your sand castles in the sky.”
She didn’t answer. She pretended not to hear.
***
Georgette is a river, she’s a river in the sky.
She rains. She runs off. She flows. She flows away.
She returns the next season, or the next year.
And you never love the same Georgette twice.
<< Story #19 | All Stories | About >>
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I enjoy getting to know Georgette. Though, I know I never will.
I’ve reached the end of “Being With Georgette”.
Big sigh here.
This is quite an impressive series of vignettes. So much said between the lines. I really don’t know what to say except it will be a long time, if ever, I quit thinking about these two that shared an incubator, and an off and on surreal life.
Wren 🍀
Thank you, Wren. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it. I intended it to be an ongoing series, but after #20, things seemed to feel complete. We’ll see if some kind of sequel emerges in the future.
What will be, will be. Meanwhile, I’ll check out some of your other posts. 🙂🍀
Enjoy.
I see this series as having been written by a person who enjoys episodes of exalting mania and the tumultuous lows that often follow. Both sides of the same coin.
Brilliant on all fronts. I am jealous. So there!
Thank you for your attention. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 😀
Quite enjoyed this.
💗💗💗
“Georgette is a river, she’s a river in the sky.” beautiful.
wow beautiful read
Thank you. 😊
“I’d build mine at the bottom of the ocean.” Hit me so suddenly, the writing is beautiful
Thank you. Glad you like it. 🙂
Beautiful! Thank you!
I enjoyed this piece very much, Rick. The mystery, the emotion… The absence and return… 😉
I can feel a song in here. 🙂