Garage Sale

by Jane Howe
reprinted with permission

I stopped by my neighbor's place the other day.

They were doing a bang-up business at an obviously outrageous garage sale. While perusing the goodies, I happened to mention I was a close neighbor. She couldn't place me. Yes, I live just around the turn. No recognition yet. That's Okay. Right now I'd just as soon not remind her.

Too late.

"Oh, now I remember! You're Stevie's Mom!" She had heard we lost a child, but she thought it was a girl. I glossed over the error and launched into the happy story of adoption, our most precious little Ricky.

"How nice- now you have two children!"
"No, Stevie died."
(After all this time, how those words stuck in my throat. She had refused to believe...)

Now she cried. I cried.

I bought a tiny sled for the babies in my family yet to come visit.

The welcome mat is out.