ICE FLOW
Ice Flow
Geraldine stopped reading and looked at her watch. Almost four. Her mother would be back soon.
Hello baby. Elle would say. What’s doi’n hon?
Nothing much. Geraldine would answer.
This was the routine they shared. Solo Mom and adolescent daughter. Geraldine hated onslaughts of small talk. Geraldine hated her name.
Elle’d made a pact with Geraldine. ‘I won’t call you Geraldine. At least not to your face.’ Then she’d added. ‘I won’t bore you ‘Deeny’ with how my day’s been if you’ve done your chores - ok? Otherwise, I’ll haunt you, Hon, with the name you were born with.’
The phone rang.
Mom? Deeny said.
It’s ME! The voice announced.
Hello ME. Deeny replied.
Cheeky duck. More like your mother every day.
Geraldine raised her left eyebrow.
I’m surrounded Geraldine!
Geraldine pursed her bottom lip. You know I will hang up ME if you ever call me THAT again!
Surrounded by ice - oops Deeny. Mountainous icebergs.
Anyway, she’s not here MEEEEE! Mom’s not here.
I was dancing with Rudi dear. He whirled me about! That blackbird, the one with the wild eyes watching over those goldfish in the bowl - it was the only good sign. Outside I saw a girl - A ghost of a girl Deeny whirling around like a snowflake. What do you make of it? Deeny?
You’ve lost it. Deeny’s mind said but mouth instigated. WILD Grandma! I’ll get Mom to call you ok? She’ll be back… ABOUT MIDNIGHT. I’ll get her to call you when she comes in. Deeny hit the cell phone stop button and rolled her eyes.
She thought - You’ve lost the plot COMPLETELY! She hit the button on her iPhone. Deeny danced to the beat across the room over to the bay windows. She flayed her hands and arms about and before she sat on the ledge she did a spin on her heels. She opened one of the windows. Smog sat there. She stretched her neck out and viewed the neighboring houses. Her eyes sped down over the rooftops. Her mind ran down San Francisco streets below.
No Mom – No Mom’s car yet. A car snuck into her Mom’s parking space. ‘Thomas the Man’ was parking his van. The man, Thomas jumped out.
Hey Tom. Now she was on the stairway. Doing fast foot moves. ‘Thomas the Man’ would ring the front doorbell and Deany would open it with a spin. Deany smiled. Fast aren't I?
Deeny! He said. Some bear you know in Alaska? The Yukon Deeny. He said tossing a package in his hands.
Deeny twisted one corner of her mouth. She said. Beats me.
It’s addressed to YOU. Thomas grinned. He offered her a pen to sign with. Deeny scratched her signature and handed the pen and book back.
Nothing for your Mom? Elle’s calling card for her design work was turned over on its back. The sign by the door’s not over. Your Mom’s not working. Thomas the Man said. Nope. Nothing today. Gotta go.
Deeny smiled like ‘Thomas the Man’ smiled. His smile and his slow-paced walk, she imitated. She liked him.
‘Thomas the Man’s’ car. Elle pulled in at the curb hitting the horn behind it. She turned off the ignition. Elle leaned across into the back seat and picked her work up. She opened the car door and got out of the car and opened the boot and took out the daily shopping. Elle zapped the car doors and stepped out toward the gate.
Tom! Elle called.
Thomas and Deeny exchanged a smile. Then went straight-faced when they saw Elle.
He said. Nothing for you today, it’s for Ms. Deeny.
So Ms. Deeny? Said Elle stepping onto the porch
Yeah? Said her daughter.
What you got Hon?
Deeny tossed the package up in the air.
Thomas the Man hovered.
Elle smiled.
Thomas bounced off the top step.
Gotta go then. He said heading toward the gate.
So Deeny. Elle said snuggling into her daughter’s neck.
So? Deeny said.
You like him.
Deeny handled the package like ‘Thomas the Man’ had.
What have you got there? Elle said.
Deeny handed over the package.
As if I haven’t got enough to carry already Deeny. Help me.
They walked into the kitchen. Elle checked out the writing on the package. It was her Grandmother’s writing, round and beautifully scripted
Deeny said. She phoned Mom. Maybe an hour ago. She’s even crazier. She talked about being surrounded by ice and blackbirds and dancing with a man called Rudi?
Elle threw her head back and laughed. She’s got the hide and heart of an old buffalo. She’ll be 91 in seven days. Granny’s earned the right to do whatever she pleases Hon. Go wherever she wants but going up The Yukon!
STOP! Geraldine said with a look of collapse on her face. You’re talking too much.
I am. Elle said. Sorry, Hon.
I said you’d call her Mom.
She left her number?
I didn’t know she was calling from The YUKON.
She’ll call again. Granny loves a chat. Well? Aren’t you going to open it? Elle said.
I don’t think I want to. Deeny sulked.
Elle took a pair of scissors out of a drawer and passed them to her daughter. Tear it open with your teeth if you have to or use these.
Deeny reluctantly slid one point of the scissors between tape and paper.
Get it open. Before it melts. Elle said.
Deeny tore at the paper. Stale musty air hit her in the face.
Smells bad! She said. You have it!
Elle sighed and took the package. There were layers and layers of tissue paper. She unfolded them to find a faded red dress. Elle lifted it out.
It’s practically ragged! Deeny moaned. What’s she doing sending me an UGLY old dress!
Elle said. I used to love this dress.
Geraldine scrunched the dress up and threw it at her mother.
Well, it’s YOURS then!
She’s confused baby. Maybe she thought. . .
Thought what? Said Deeny.
Maybe she thought you were me. Maybe she remembered I liked it.
It’s always about YOU. Isn’t it? Deeny screamed.
The phone rang. Deeny answered it.
It’s ME! The voice announced.
Hello ME ME ME! Deeny cried out.
Granny ME said nothing.
Deeny said. Are you still there?
Give it here. Elle said. Elle whispered to her daughter. Get your ass out of here! Then full-toned to Granny Me. Hey, we're so GLAD to hear from you.
Deeny's here. Sure. I’ll put her back on.
Elle held the phone to her daughter’s ear.
Did the dress fit you Deeny? Granny Me asked.
It didn’t fit. Deeny said. No Grandma, I'm afraid not.
But it WILL Deeny. Granny Me said.
Yeah. Deeny sighed. Someday soon. She fluttered her eyelashes at her mother and mouthed in a low whisper.
When Pigs fly.
Elle snatched the phone off her daughter and said.
She LOVES IT, Grandma! We ALL love it, Grandma.
Deeny snatched the phone off her mother.
THAT dress. Deeny said. I ALWAYS loved it.
Elle smiled. Elle grabbed the phone from her daughter. Now, what’s this about Rudi?
I should have married him instead of your damn great-grandfather. Grandma Me said.
Tell me. Elle said. It’s me now Grandma, not Deeny.
Boris was TALKING to blackbird honey. Well, actually honey the BLACKBIRD was looking at him straight in the eye and singing him the death rattles. Rudi wanted me to go dancing.
What did the bird say? Elle asked.
It said ‘Enjoy the grapes. Get drunk on them. Don’t let them rot there on the vine’.
Ok. Said Elle. Are you ok Grandma?
I’m going to die honey. Grandma ME said.
Elle said ‘Ok. Yes, we all are. You may be right but I’m going to book you on a flight to come and stay with us ok. I'll book it for tonight Grandma.
Granny Me said. I’ll be flying alright honey.
Elle said choking back the tear-filled laughter. You crack me up, Grandma.
Deeny didn’t get the ‘dress gesture’. Grandma ME said. Did she?
She HATES it. Elle sighed.
Good kid. Granny Me said. I like to make her nervous. Like her honesty.
Elle said. Don’t die on us Grandma. Not tonight.
Ok. When then? When I land on your doorstep?
We love you. Elle said and closed her eyes.
Grandma ME said. You too duckie daddle and that far too forthright girl you gave birth to.
Elle said. We love you, Grandma.
Tell Deeny I’ve grown old and frail and I’m falling apart at the seams like that dress. I’ll be dancing with Rudi tonight and Boris can stay out in the cold shoveling snow but I don’t need that bird singing the death rattles to me. I gotta go now. I'll catch up with you gals later.
We love you, Grandma. I'll call you in the morning ok. Ok, it's too late for you to travel tonight I understand.
Grandma ME hit the end button and looked out the window at the falling snow. She walked out into the snow-filled sunshine. I'm here Rudi ready for that dance now. The path was slippery with ice.
**2
Now way up North on the Western seaboard, in ‘Sewards Folly or Sewards Icebox’ as it was called way back when but now the 49th State of America, in the Yukon Territory, Great Grandma Me found herself another dream. But in the morning when she awoke she’d lost it completely.
Then she remembered it.
Got it! Boris is working hard at shoveling snow. That’s it. Snow that goes up high to the ledge of a second-story window.
Great Grandma, Me closed her eyes to better recall what happened next.
Boris has stopped shoveling. What the damn is he listening to?
Then she gets it!
He‘s staring at that blackbird. Boris is leaning his ear toward that bird but it isn’t saying anything. It's just sitting there.
Grandma Me opened her eyes. She smiled.
Rudi and I are dancing.
***
Deeny was laying on the lounge viewing vertical strands of rain arrive on the landing of the porch.
Why isn’t that girl in bed? Elle thought. It’s close to midnight.
Why aren’t I in bed? She said aloud and zapped the TV off.
Why’d you do that? Deeny yawned.
You weren’t watching it.
Elle's cell phone rang.
NO! Deeny said. Don't answer it.
Janice Slater © 2023
First photo: Unknown Source
Second photo: Janice Slater © 2023
Geraldine stopped reading and looked at her watch. Almost four. Her mother would be back soon.
Hello baby. Elle would say. What’s doi’n hon?
Nothing much. Geraldine would answer.
This was the routine they shared. Solo Mom and adolescent daughter. Geraldine hated onslaughts of small talk. Geraldine hated her name.
Elle’d made a pact with Geraldine. ‘I won’t call you Geraldine. At least not to your face.’ Then she’d added. ‘I won’t bore you ‘Deeny’ with how my day’s been if you’ve done your chores - ok? Otherwise, I’ll haunt you, Hon, with the name you were born with.’
The phone rang.
Mom? Deeny said.
It’s ME! The voice announced.
Hello ME. Deeny replied.
Cheeky duck. More like your mother every day.
Geraldine raised her left eyebrow.
I’m surrounded Geraldine!
Geraldine pursed her bottom lip. You know I will hang up ME if you ever call me THAT again!
Surrounded by ice - oops Deeny. Mountainous icebergs.
Anyway, she’s not here MEEEEE! Mom’s not here.
I was dancing with Rudi dear. He whirled me about! That blackbird, the one with the wild eyes watching over those goldfish in the bowl - it was the only good sign. Outside I saw a girl - A ghost of a girl Deeny whirling around like a snowflake. What do you make of it? Deeny?
You’ve lost it. Deeny’s mind said but mouth instigated. WILD Grandma! I’ll get Mom to call you ok? She’ll be back… ABOUT MIDNIGHT. I’ll get her to call you when she comes in. Deeny hit the cell phone stop button and rolled her eyes.
She thought - You’ve lost the plot COMPLETELY! She hit the button on her iPhone. Deeny danced to the beat across the room over to the bay windows. She flayed her hands and arms about and before she sat on the ledge she did a spin on her heels. She opened one of the windows. Smog sat there. She stretched her neck out and viewed the neighboring houses. Her eyes sped down over the rooftops. Her mind ran down San Francisco streets below.
No Mom – No Mom’s car yet. A car snuck into her Mom’s parking space. ‘Thomas the Man’ was parking his van. The man, Thomas jumped out.
Hey Tom. Now she was on the stairway. Doing fast foot moves. ‘Thomas the Man’ would ring the front doorbell and Deany would open it with a spin. Deany smiled. Fast aren't I?
Deeny! He said. Some bear you know in Alaska? The Yukon Deeny. He said tossing a package in his hands.
Deeny twisted one corner of her mouth. She said. Beats me.
It’s addressed to YOU. Thomas grinned. He offered her a pen to sign with. Deeny scratched her signature and handed the pen and book back.
Nothing for your Mom? Elle’s calling card for her design work was turned over on its back. The sign by the door’s not over. Your Mom’s not working. Thomas the Man said. Nope. Nothing today. Gotta go.
Deeny smiled like ‘Thomas the Man’ smiled. His smile and his slow-paced walk, she imitated. She liked him.
‘Thomas the Man’s’ car. Elle pulled in at the curb hitting the horn behind it. She turned off the ignition. Elle leaned across into the back seat and picked her work up. She opened the car door and got out of the car and opened the boot and took out the daily shopping. Elle zapped the car doors and stepped out toward the gate.
Tom! Elle called.
Thomas and Deeny exchanged a smile. Then went straight-faced when they saw Elle.
He said. Nothing for you today, it’s for Ms. Deeny.
So Ms. Deeny? Said Elle stepping onto the porch
Yeah? Said her daughter.
What you got Hon?
Deeny tossed the package up in the air.
Thomas the Man hovered.
Elle smiled.
Thomas bounced off the top step.
Gotta go then. He said heading toward the gate.
So Deeny. Elle said snuggling into her daughter’s neck.
So? Deeny said.
You like him.
Deeny handled the package like ‘Thomas the Man’ had.
What have you got there? Elle said.
Deeny handed over the package.
As if I haven’t got enough to carry already Deeny. Help me.
They walked into the kitchen. Elle checked out the writing on the package. It was her Grandmother’s writing, round and beautifully scripted
Deeny said. She phoned Mom. Maybe an hour ago. She’s even crazier. She talked about being surrounded by ice and blackbirds and dancing with a man called Rudi?
Elle threw her head back and laughed. She’s got the hide and heart of an old buffalo. She’ll be 91 in seven days. Granny’s earned the right to do whatever she pleases Hon. Go wherever she wants but going up The Yukon!
STOP! Geraldine said with a look of collapse on her face. You’re talking too much.
I am. Elle said. Sorry, Hon.
I said you’d call her Mom.
She left her number?
I didn’t know she was calling from The YUKON.
She’ll call again. Granny loves a chat. Well? Aren’t you going to open it? Elle said.
I don’t think I want to. Deeny sulked.
Elle took a pair of scissors out of a drawer and passed them to her daughter. Tear it open with your teeth if you have to or use these.
Deeny reluctantly slid one point of the scissors between tape and paper.
Get it open. Before it melts. Elle said.
Deeny tore at the paper. Stale musty air hit her in the face.
Smells bad! She said. You have it!
Elle sighed and took the package. There were layers and layers of tissue paper. She unfolded them to find a faded red dress. Elle lifted it out.
It’s practically ragged! Deeny moaned. What’s she doing sending me an UGLY old dress!
Elle said. I used to love this dress.
Geraldine scrunched the dress up and threw it at her mother.
Well, it’s YOURS then!
She’s confused baby. Maybe she thought. . .
Thought what? Said Deeny.
Maybe she thought you were me. Maybe she remembered I liked it.
It’s always about YOU. Isn’t it? Deeny screamed.
The phone rang. Deeny answered it.
It’s ME! The voice announced.
Hello ME ME ME! Deeny cried out.
Granny ME said nothing.
Deeny said. Are you still there?
Give it here. Elle said. Elle whispered to her daughter. Get your ass out of here! Then full-toned to Granny Me. Hey, we're so GLAD to hear from you.
Deeny's here. Sure. I’ll put her back on.
Elle held the phone to her daughter’s ear.
Did the dress fit you Deeny? Granny Me asked.
It didn’t fit. Deeny said. No Grandma, I'm afraid not.
But it WILL Deeny. Granny Me said.
Yeah. Deeny sighed. Someday soon. She fluttered her eyelashes at her mother and mouthed in a low whisper.
When Pigs fly.
Elle snatched the phone off her daughter and said.
She LOVES IT, Grandma! We ALL love it, Grandma.
Deeny snatched the phone off her mother.
THAT dress. Deeny said. I ALWAYS loved it.
Elle smiled. Elle grabbed the phone from her daughter. Now, what’s this about Rudi?
I should have married him instead of your damn great-grandfather. Grandma Me said.
Tell me. Elle said. It’s me now Grandma, not Deeny.
Boris was TALKING to blackbird honey. Well, actually honey the BLACKBIRD was looking at him straight in the eye and singing him the death rattles. Rudi wanted me to go dancing.
What did the bird say? Elle asked.
It said ‘Enjoy the grapes. Get drunk on them. Don’t let them rot there on the vine’.
Ok. Said Elle. Are you ok Grandma?
I’m going to die honey. Grandma ME said.
Elle said ‘Ok. Yes, we all are. You may be right but I’m going to book you on a flight to come and stay with us ok. I'll book it for tonight Grandma.
Granny Me said. I’ll be flying alright honey.
Elle said choking back the tear-filled laughter. You crack me up, Grandma.
Deeny didn’t get the ‘dress gesture’. Grandma ME said. Did she?
She HATES it. Elle sighed.
Good kid. Granny Me said. I like to make her nervous. Like her honesty.
Elle said. Don’t die on us Grandma. Not tonight.
Ok. When then? When I land on your doorstep?
We love you. Elle said and closed her eyes.
Grandma ME said. You too duckie daddle and that far too forthright girl you gave birth to.
Elle said. We love you, Grandma.
Tell Deeny I’ve grown old and frail and I’m falling apart at the seams like that dress. I’ll be dancing with Rudi tonight and Boris can stay out in the cold shoveling snow but I don’t need that bird singing the death rattles to me. I gotta go now. I'll catch up with you gals later.
We love you, Grandma. I'll call you in the morning ok. Ok, it's too late for you to travel tonight I understand.
Grandma ME hit the end button and looked out the window at the falling snow. She walked out into the snow-filled sunshine. I'm here Rudi ready for that dance now. The path was slippery with ice.
**2
Now way up North on the Western seaboard, in ‘Sewards Folly or Sewards Icebox’ as it was called way back when but now the 49th State of America, in the Yukon Territory, Great Grandma Me found herself another dream. But in the morning when she awoke she’d lost it completely.
Then she remembered it.
Got it! Boris is working hard at shoveling snow. That’s it. Snow that goes up high to the ledge of a second-story window.
Great Grandma, Me closed her eyes to better recall what happened next.
Boris has stopped shoveling. What the damn is he listening to?
Then she gets it!
He‘s staring at that blackbird. Boris is leaning his ear toward that bird but it isn’t saying anything. It's just sitting there.
Grandma Me opened her eyes. She smiled.
Rudi and I are dancing.
***
Deeny was laying on the lounge viewing vertical strands of rain arrive on the landing of the porch.
Why isn’t that girl in bed? Elle thought. It’s close to midnight.
Why aren’t I in bed? She said aloud and zapped the TV off.
Why’d you do that? Deeny yawned.
You weren’t watching it.
Elle's cell phone rang.
NO! Deeny said. Don't answer it.
Janice Slater © 2023
First photo: Unknown Source
Second photo: Janice Slater © 2023
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