5 Joe
“How have you been?” Mother asked. Why, I didn’t know. I hadn’t seen her since I was seventeen, and that was thirteen years ago. Unless a miracle had occurred, she probably still didn’t give a s**t.
“Peachy.”
“It’s a long ride from Manakin-Sabot. I’ve worked up a thirst. May I have a glass of…” She glanced around the gloomy room, “make that a bottle of water.”
I sighed, then opened the cooler in front of me and pulled one out, placing it in front of her. She stared at it, then me and realized she’d have to open it herself. Mother reached into her expensive Hermes purse and pulled a starched white handkerchief out of it, then struggled with the plastic bottle. Finally, it opened. She lifted it to her lips then thought better about it.
“Straw, please.”
I chuckled, then placed one
