A Nice Day

They waited for lunch to be served.

“At least it’s not pouring.”

“Yes, we can run between the raindrops.” She looked at her mother’s opalescent skin and wished they could discuss something besides the weather. “And the gardens really need the rain. We’ve had so little so far this year.”

“We’ve gotten a lot. My yard is soaked.” Her mother grimaced and rubbed her side.

She tried not to sigh out loud.

During the meal, they focused on the food.

“The salad is quite good. It has chunks of roquford and walnuts. And the melon is tasty.” She kept a chipper tone in her voice.

“How is your ham wrap?”

She couldn’t answer. She had a mouthfull of food. Answering turned out to be unneccessary.

“They remind me of raw flour.” Her mother took a sip of lemonade. “I think tuna was a bad idea. I’ve felt nautious for three days now.”

After lunch, they drove along the river her mother had never seen the delapidated mansions in this area. Then, they drove from house to house, to visit the gardens. They only managed five of the twelve on the tour. Her mother felt dizzy.

“I like all of the green plants with the different colors splashed on them.” She pointed to a tumble of leaves with pink and burgandy along their inner spines.

“You should plant some flowers to spruce your garden up.”

“Flowers have to be replanted every year, don’t they? These spikey grasses wave in the breeze and come back.”

“Don’t be so lazy. You could do so much with the space around your house if you spent more time outside.”

“This used to be the ice house to the mansion with the roof tiles falling off.”

“If you would stop playing with your computer, you could get so much more done.”

“Look at the scar on that tree. It must be very old.”

After the leaving the garden tour, they went for a pedicure. She had never gotten one before.

Her mother treated with gift certificates.

She told her mother they could do a pedicure the first weekend of each month.

“Weekdays are better, but I guess you have to work.”

“It’s not too bust today an Saturdays are easier.”

“You should take better care of yourself. You are getting older, you know.”

“This whirl pool feels good on my feet.”

“Look at all of that dead skin. It’s important to take care of your feet at your age.”

She tried not to sigh out loud.

“We had such a lovely day. Thanks for taking me on the garden tour.”

“Yes, and thanks for the pedicure.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mother.”

She had avoided the usual arguments, but she felt sad and empty.