Something Familiar

2024-07-06 “Something Familiar”  by  Merritt

Well, I can’t lie. Emma has proven to be both inspiring and challenging.

She’s smart and catches on fast. But she is so lost.

She’s trying to adapt. I guess I am, too. This car is crazy! The electronics. I’m sure not in 1984 anymore.

Between Memphis and Atlanta, Jenn thought a stop at a Crackling Barrel would be nice; it would have food Emma would understand served on plates, not wrapped up in paper and all that. Plus the decor would, Jenn guessed, resonate with her.

Jenn was right about all that, but there were some surprises.

We were about to get out of the car when Emma spoke up. “There sure are a lot of n… I mean, you said to say ‘black’ people around here, just going about their business like no one cares.”

Jenn answered. “They are just going about their business, and no one really cares. That’s something of a change for me. When I was growing up, there was still a lot of discrimination.”

I added that it was just starting to change when I was in college in the 80s. “Seems the US has made some progress, but I dare say there’s room for improvement.”

Emma’s attention was already on to something else. “Jenn… did you see them two on the porch?”

“See what?”

“They was kissing like nobody was around.”

I smiled. “Also a change since I was a kid. Kissing in public was between family saying hello or goodbye, I guess. I see a lot more…”

Jenn finished the thought. “Public displays of affection…”

I nodded.

Now I tell you this now, because it becomes relevant later in today's story, in Part 2.

Lunch was pretty routine. Emma was comfortable with the menu and she recognized a lot of the decorations. Jenn explained that they were antiques and replicas. 

I was still adjusting to the menu prices, but I had to remember that 40 years had passed. And it was less than in Vancouver. Yeah… we all have a lot of adjusting to do.

After we were done eating, on the way out, I suggested we take a few minutes and just look around. We had a comparatively short trip, and I didn’t relish folding myself back up into the Honda.

Emma wandered around by herself for a minute, then Jenn nudged me and pointed. She was holding a rag doll and looking at it as tears welled up in her eyes.

We went to her as she forced a smile and looked at us. “I had a rag doll my granny made me. It weren’t store-bought, though. I… gave it to my little cousin when I got too old for toys.”

Well, I didn’t hesitate. I took the doll from her and paid for it, then handed it to her. “For old times sake. Might as well have something familiar, right?”

She smiled as she looked at the doll, then she tucked it under her arm and grabbed my elbows. She pulled in and kissed me. She missed my mouth by a half, getting mostly my chin and some of my lower lip.

Then she looked around at the others in the store, then looked at Jenn, then back at me as she backed away. “No one even cares, do they?”

I’m sure I didn’t care. I’m not sure, though that Jenn was okay with it. That’s probably fodder for another post.

Well, we made it to my folks house. I’ll spare you the long, long, explanation I had to give them about showing up with two women and our plans to go to Miami… 

Mom directed Jenn to my room, Emma to the guest room, and told me I could sleep in what she called my dad’s “man cave.” It had a couch, so… Yeah…”

When I caught up with the girls, they were sitting in the family room. Emma was on the sofa holding her rag doll and Jenn was looking at her like a doting big sister!

I was struck by the idea that we were becoming something like a family. But I wasn’t sure how roles we are filling, if you know what I mean. We might have a lot of adjusting to do, but at least we could adjust together.