Page 31 of Molly
The woman sniffed, turned on her heel, and stormed out of the restaurant.
Mom moved around our table and stood in front of Rivera. “May I?” A second later she had Rivera folded into a brief hug, ignoring the professional etiquette regulations against personal displays of affection in uniform. Mom would no doubt argue the hug hadn’t been a sign of affection but support and, as everyone in the dining room could now attest, Mom rarely lost an argument.
Rivera collected moisture from her eye on the back of her finger. “Thank you.”
Mom patted her shoulder. “You did good.”
“Mexico.” Rivera rolled her eyes with a small chuckle. “Couldn’t she hear the New Yorker in my voice?”
My tongue finally untied from the shock of it all, and I said, “Some people only hear what they want to hear.”
“Besides, it shouldn’t have mattered if you were from Mexico and you weren’t in uniform. She should’ve known better.” Mom shook her head. “Ignorance kills me. Anyone who wears your Lieutenant bars has to be a citizen, and to be a citizen one must completely renounce all allegiance to any former country.” She stared out the door Sourface had exited. “It’s about time people renounce prejudice and racism.”
“And only speak words of kindness,” I added, thinking it wouldn’t hurt for Thumper’s mom to remind the population that if you didn’t have something nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time I’ve encountered something like that, and I doubt it’ll be the last.” Rivera’s shoulders rose and fell, though I could tell the confrontation had shaken her.
Mom gripped her shoulder. “Be true to yourself. Take pride in your culture and in your uniform.”
“I will, ma’am.”
Rivera waved goodbye, and Mom and I returned to our now lukewarm soups.
“I hope I didn’t embarrass you.” Mom lifted her drink to her lips and took a sip. “I know you don’t like scenes or confrontations, and I’m afraid my outburst might have garnered a few looks from the other patrons.”
“Embarrass me?” How could she even think that? “Mom, I am so incredibly proud of you, it’s not even funny.”
A sly look crossed her face. “I was a bit of a battleax, wasn’t I?”
I laughed. “Maybe not the exact word I would’ve used, but close enough. And, yes, you were.” I sobered. “That’s my battlefield. Thinking like that…ignorance can only be combated by education. If we want to effect change, we have to teach it. That’s what I’m going to do.”
She stared at me across the table, pride in her eyes. “I always knew you were a fighter.” She winked. “Even if you prefer to make your own clothes and never wear camouflage.”
10
Ben
Textbook San Diego weather beckoned us closer to the coast as we exited the 5 and merged onto La Jolla Parkway. Beautiful, crystal-clear blue skies, temperature hovering around the mid-seventies range, and an undercurrent of something indescribable humming through the air. A tinge of excitement maybe. A promise of adventure.
The sun hung heavy in the sky, bright and full. If there had been fog clinging to the ground, stubbornly refusing to dissipate and allow the glorious light to shine, a sun like the one above us would have the power to burn the cleaving mist away.
I glanced over at Molly in the passenger seat. She leaned on her hip, rotated so she smiled back at Chloe in her car seat behind me. They played their dozenth round of Rock, Paper, Scissors. My lips bowed of their own accord as Molly dramatically groaned at having her rock covered by Chloe’s paper.
The problem with living in a fog for a long time is that the haze becomes normal. You don’t even recognize the murkiness for what it is anymore because you begin to forget what the world looked like without the distorted shroud of gray. Only being able to see ten feet in front of your face is enough, because if you strained your eyes to be able to see further, you’d end up tripping on something lying directly in your path.
But then shafts of light shoot through and you wonder to yourself, whatisthat? The thick fog thins and all that was shadowy and gray comes into focus and color.
And you remember.
You remember what the world was like. Whatyouwere like before the pall. And you can look beyond what lies just in front of your feet. Begin to hope that the sun will shine again tomorrow. And the next day.
And the next.
“Are we there yet?” Chloe whined.
“Yep. Go ahead and get out.” I switched lanes and checked my speed.
Molly grinned at my sarcasm, but Chloe huffed. “That’s what you always say, Daddy.”
