Mama has been invited to a tea
for the wives of professors at Hillsborough College.
When the invitation came in the mail last week,
she opened it and read it
like Mifune
and set it next to the napkin holder.
Today, Papa asks, “What are you going to tell them?”
“What is this tea all about?” she asks, looking at the envelope
like it has poison ivy in it.
“Well, I’ve never been to one,
but I think you drink tea and talk with the other wives.”
“Oh. I don’t need to do that, James.”
“I think it would be good for you.
You would meet new people and
make some friends.”
“I don’t need friends—
I have you and Mimi
and the turkeys.”
Papa says nothing. Mama says nothing
for a minute, and then,
Papa says, “If you knew
there would be someone at the tea you could talk to,
would you go?”
Mama sighs. “If it’s that important to you, okay.
I will go to the tea.”
Then Papa sits back in his chair and smiles.
“Thank you, Emi,” he says.
It is that important to him.
And now I wonder who that someone will be.