The Price of Broccoli
“I wonder if she has moved away? Haven’t seen the car there
in ages.”
“I haven’t seen any other cars there, either. Maybe she’s
moved into a home.”
“Probably forced to give it up.”
“A car’s not cheap. She could take a taxi for supplies and
back three times a week for what a car costs.”
“With money left over for a trip to Disney.”
“She’s tough. I'll give her that. There’s never a thing out of place.”
“Except the weeds.”
“I think the weeds are intentional. No lawn to cut.”
“Lots of patches.”
“Her trailer must be more than sixty years old. That patch
on the corner’s been there as long as I can remember.”
“A new patch or two every year. That bigger one gets bigger
every year. It’s a wonder it holds the heat.”
“Was she even there last winter? Maybe she moves in with
family in the winter.”
“No wood pile – must be expensive to heat.”
“She can afford the newspaper every day.”
“Never see a light. Not that we drive much at night.”
“I don’t like driving at night anymore – or in the rain.”
“You’re getting old.”
“You’re keeping up.”
“So is everyone else out here. If it wasn’t for church and
cards you’d think every house was empty.”
“And their cars.”
“They hardly leave the yards save for church, cards and on
cheque day.”
“Cheques don’t go far.”
~~
“That was like going to a wake.”
“What?”
“Going for groceries. Old people paying their respects to
the meat cooler. Walking by slowly, sadly, bending over to squint at the prices
shaking their heads. Like reading the cards on funeral flowers.”
“Ha. And that distant smile recollecting a time when meat
was a part of their lives.”
“Can’t afford the vegetables for that matter. Even when it’s
on sale – half the time the lettuce is brown and so is the cauliflower.
Broccoli’s so old it’s gone to seed, and they charge double for it.”
“Maybe free trade with Europe will bring down the price of
cheese.”
“And sausages.”
“And Italian paper.”
“There’s a few clothes on the line today.”
Not many. Well worn. That red sweater’s seen better days.”
“You have to admire that she manages all alone.”
“Someone must look in on her. Families are close around
here.”
~~
“Two papers there this morning.”
“It’s been raining.”
“Not yesterday.”
“True.”
“So, what’s on the list today?”
“If we are going for coffee, let’s do that first – before
groceries. We need milk.”
“And meat. And I want to go to Canadian Tire.”
“Again?”
“I want to price paint for the bedroom.”
“Just don’t ask me what colour.”
“Or to help. I know.”
“You know I’m poor at painting.”
“So you keep reminding me.”
“That porch could do with some new paint.”
~~
“Watch out!”
“Jesus – good thing there was nothing coming. No tourists.”
“That pothole gets bigger every week.”
“Sinkhole, more like it.”
“I’m going to call the Highways again. Someone’s going to
lose a wheel.”
“Curtains are still closed.”
“Against the cold, maybe. Windows are frosted.”
“Light’s on in the kitchen; you can see where the curtains
are thin.”
“How do you know it’s the kitchen?”
“All trailers had the same layout for years.”
“Bright out. Wouldn’t need a light on if the curtains were
open. Not like her to waste, I wouldn’t think.”
~~
“She’ll have to watch it on the ice. Can’t risk a fall at
her age.”
“How old did you say?”
“I didn’t. I don’t know. Eighties, I’d say.”
“Likely.”
“Did someone keep her clear last winter? I don’t remember.”
“Doesn’t need it plowed if she doesn’t drive.”
“Someone must need to drive her up to the door. Bring her
groceries.”
“True. It’s just the first snow, anyway. It’ll be gone in a
couple of days.”
“Do you have the list? Where to first?”
“We need meat. And eggs. So, Sobeys last. Coffee?”
“Coffee.”
~~
“I wish you’d slow down. It might be icy under the snow.”
“Damn slow getting the snow plow out this morning.”
“No, I heard it during the night.”
“Must have laid down some salt before the snow started. But
it snowed harder than the forecast. They should have come around again by now.”
“I don’t know why we need to go to town this early anyway.
We should have waited ’til later – ’til it’s plowed.”
“It’s cheque day. If we don’t get ahead of the crowd there
won’t be a sprig of broccoli left worth having.”
“Slow down for the turn.”
“Lots of traffic there, this morning early. Between
snowfalls.”
“Geez, nothing for months and now the whole town visits.”
“Least one of them could have cleared some snow away,
instead of driving right through it. When that freezes no one’s going to get in
or out.”
“Shell fall and break her hip one of these days.”
“Not like her though. She always used to keep the steps
clean.”
“I wonder if she’s moved away. Or into a home.”
“Not by the look of the traffic this morning.”
“Maybe with family for the winter.”
“That would make sense. At least somebody would be looking
out for her.”
=30=
