When the Sun Comes Out

I arrange a tray

and take it into the garden,

where Marla and I sit in our coats

nibbling on buns and sipping lemonade.

It’s a weedy mess out here, she says.

Mammy’s usually so good at keeping up with the garden.

Let’s tidy it, I suggest.

Marla lifts a glass to her lips.

We can plant anything we want.

Let’s get some sunflower seeds!

Or we could grow vegetables.

How about cabbage?

Dad would disapprove.

He’d think it was

bullshit

to grow your own food.

Yes. Let’s try cabbage, I say.