Apple Tree

Apple Tree (October 2019, Week 2, Day 2)

“I think I’m having a stroke.”

“You’re not.”

“There is no way you can know that.”

“You’re not having a stroke.”

“I think I’m-”

“Look again.”

“Look again at what?”

“At whatever you saw that made you think you’re having a stroke.”

“…oh.”

“Right.”

“I guess I’m ok.”

“Yeah.”

“It could have been a stroke.”

“Just because it’s possible doesn’t make it probable.”

“You always say that.”

“It’s always true.”

“Improbable doesn’t always win.”

“True.”

“So I could have been having a stroke.”

“Is that a goal?”

“Having a stroke?”

“Yes. You genuinely seem disappointed that you’re not.”

“I’m not disappointed.”

“You are.”

“Well, I’m not disappointed I’m not having a stroke.”

“Just disappointed that I was right? Again?”

“Gee, I wonder why that might be disappointing, given how gracious you are about it.”

“I’m wrong sometimes.”

“Not often enough.”

“I would think that, in this case, you’d be happy about it.”

“And why is that?”

“Well, we didn’t have to spend the night in the emergency room. We didn’t have to foot the bill for an ambulance. We didn’t-”

“Right. I forgot.”

“Forgot what?”

“How expensive it is to have me around.”

“How what now? This isn’t about money.”

“Right. Right. Thanks for using your neverending wisdom to protect myself from myself.”

“I do not understand you.”

“You never have.”

***

“Honey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“You’re drinking coffee with cream and sugar and you’re gonna try and tell me nothing is wrong? There is no way that’s flying. Dish.”

“I don’t want to talk about it, ok?”

“Nope, not even a little ok. You may think you don’t want to talk about it but your coffee order tells me otherwise.”

“Really. Tell me about your trip.”

“Not until you tell me what’s going on. Are you dying?”

“Mom!”

“Well, are you? That would be just like you, to be dying and to try to run from the conversation.”

“God. Mom. I’m not dying.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Please. Tell me about your trip.”

“I shouldn’t have gone. I should have been here for you.”

“There was nothing to be here for me for – I am NOT dying.”

“I had a bad feeling about leaving. I told your father – you can ask him. We could have postponed the trip. All you had to do was say something. You know that, right? That I’m here for you first and for me second. That’s how it’s been since the day you were born. Since the day you were conceived, really. I felt the shift that afternoon, just as I was getting up from the be-”

“Please – I don’t want to relive my conception.”

“Sorry. I’m just so worried about you.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine.”

“Mom.”

“Coffee doesn’t lie.”

“I’m fine, it’s just-”

“Yes?”

“We had a fight.”

“Oh.”

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

“You’re fine?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you say ‘we’re fine’?”

“I did.”

“You didn’t. You said “I’m fine” and left him completely out of it.”

“I meant we’re fine.”

“Are you getting a divorce?”

“Mom, no. Tell me about your trip.”

2 thoughts on “Apple Tree”

  1. I’m late to the voting, but if you need a tie-breaker, this gets my vote for week two 🙂 I’m curious to see how the dialogue evolves and leaks character and plot between the cracks.

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