Chapter 11
Clara stopped eating at Katherine’s house for a while.
Her choice.
Then stopped going entirely.
Also her choice, within reason.
Months later she asked:
“Aunt Katherine have cookies?”
Children.
I said yes.
“Can go?”
I called Katherine.
She cried before answering.
I warned her:
“No rules about rank.”
“I know.”
“No talking about me dying.”
“I know.”
“No teaching her family duty.”
Long pause.
Then:
“I know.”
Clara visited for one hour.
Came home with two cookies and a badly wrapped doll.
May you like
Progress looked ridiculous.
Good.
