Aunt Darnell marches Jackson
back to the kitchen.
Jackson sniffles. “Inky
climbed out of my pocket.”
Aunt Darnell scolds,
“Inky had no business
in your pocket
in the first place.
I told you before—
no Inky in the restaurant!”
When Jackson starts wailing
Mom picks him up.
“C’mon, little man, you’re going to scare off
the rest of our customers.
Come upstairs with Aunt Vera.”
Ruby Frances says, “I hope
that Mrs. Otis does go
to the newspapers.
It’ll be free publicity.
Some movie star said that
bad publicity is better
than no publicity at all.”
All the commotion
seems to have
confused Thet.
He looks at me, gestures
like What’s going on?
“Not to worry,” I tell him.
I pat his arm.
“The spider wasn’t real
and my dad is back.”
Why I said that
in this situation, I don’t know.
Maybe because
I figure that Thet wouldn’t
understand what I just said.
But he understands my smile.
He gives me a thumbs-up
and turns back to his dishes.
Thanks, Thet.