Flash Fiction Friday: Thankless Thankfulness

Published April 4, 2009

Gabe came up with the challenge this week, and we're all a bit tardy on our posting, but eventually you'll be able to read Robin's, Caiti's, and Gabe's pieces.  I reverse compensated for the length of last week's piece.  This one is delightfully manageable at less than 500 words.  Might someone venture a guess as to what rule each of our stories follows?

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We were at Cindy’s house, remember? I think it was only your second or third time there and I don’t think you were very excited about it. Roger wasn’t there to distract you this time, but you were still star of the show. The newcomer to the family event. Everyone had a hundred questions to ask, but limited themselves to two or three. The unimportant ones. I could have jumped in, but I wanted to see how you’d handle it. You did well; they loved you.

You studied in South America, is that right? Oh, Nicaragua, of course. That’s right next to Mexico, yeah? Even I would’ve snapped, but you didn’t, which I guess is one of the reasons I thought we worked.

The living room looked like no one had ever lived in it. That was the first thing you whispered to me when we were walking to the car. I was already mad. The tree was in the corner, Aunts and Uncles filling up every chair. You were the only one who took your coffee black. I was glad you were sticking to your principles. I let mom make it the way I took it when I started to drink coffee at 14. You smiled at me and I thought you thought you were better than me.

So they all speak Spanish there, yes? Si? They all laughed; you smiled politely; I cringed. You hardly touched the bowl of cashews on the lamp stand next to your armchair. Miskito like buzz buzz? Say something! “Pri lakara mai paiwi bangwan.” They laughed when you refused to translate.

We opened gifts even though we gave none. We had sent that card, but it wasn’t up on the mantle with all of the other photos of family members in sweaters. I’m not even sure we sent one to Cindy, either. That didn’t stop her, though. I got a cute dress, but was sure it wouldn’t fit. She gave you a hideous tie. You expressed your profound gratitude on our behalf.

Once we got to the car I mentioned it. You’re never going to wear that tie. “I know.” Then why were you gushing to her? You took your time. Up until that point you thought things had gone great. “I was just being polite.” Things had gone great. “Would you rather I had lied?” I don’t know.