Nostalgia, secrets & lies
“How’s things, anyway?”
Kelly and Ben were crossing the vacant lot behind the fire station. A public right-of-way ran through the lot, where the community had begun a herb and vegetable garden.
“Wait, what?”
Unlike Gordon, Kelly didn’t repeat herself for Ben. He heard what she said, it just took time to sink in. She loved him and, in the circumstances, indulged him, but she had her limits.
“Good,” Ben said.
Kelly bent down to the corten retaining wall separating the herb and vegetable beds by produce and “owner”. The community gardeners had initially staked signs with twee painted signs such as GIVE PEAS A CHANCE and DON’T STOP BELEAFING, but more recently the messages had become a more tersely proprietorial MEG + JANE or PETE + LIZ, and the council had put up an explanatory sign saying visitors were welcome to “enjoy” the garden, meaning look but don’t pick.
Ben watched his mother pluck some sprigs of rosemary, dill, coriander and parsley. “Mum, you can’t do that.”
“I’m cooking pasta tonight. Wouldn’t you like some fresh flavours?”
“It’s against the spirit.”
Kelly considered him for a moment. “It’s a community space, right?”
“Wait, what?”