Prompt: Zip
“So, you’re the parents,” said Bob.
Envy tensed involuntarily. God, Bob, please don’t. We had a talk about your Radical Honesty. Please zip it this one time. Don’t tell my parents what I’ve said about them. Please please.
“Yes,” said Envy’s mother. “We are Envy’s biological parents.” Edwina Applegate was small and energetic, with grey-streaked smokey hair pulled back into a loose bun at the nape of her neck. She wore a very expensive red sheath, that hung upon her spare frame in a perfect, flattering drape. The “biological parents” remark was meant to be amusing. Actually, Envy did smother a tiny smile at her mother’s refusal to take the bait that Bob seemed to be offering, but on the other hand she felt the sting of her mother’s words too, because they implied what Envy knew to be true: that she was a disappointment to them. No one envied her beauty, and no one envied the wealth that her ex-husband had mostly squandered.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Bob said, honestly, taking her father’s outstretched hand and finding the grip rather overdone, as if Mr Applegate was making a point. He was a big man, his sturdy stoutness disguised by a loose, charcoal-covered sports jacket and an open shirt. He had a healthy crop of light brown hair, probably tinted since there was no grey at all.
While they enjoyed cocktails before dinner, Envy was careful to keep the topics of conversation neutral, knowing Bob’s honest opinion on the wet spring, the number of potholes in suburban and rural roads, and the dearth of fuel efficient cars outside of Europe would not cause offence to anyone.
“I take it Cash and Virginia and the baby aren’t joining us for dinner,” said Envy. She took a sip of her Bloody Mary, suddenly wishing it was bloodier (more alcoholic) and suppressed a sigh.
“Echo has colic,” said Edwina. “And you know your brother.”
“He’s becoming quite the doting mother,” said Darwin Applegate.
Bob’s honesty extended to his facial expressions. He looked surprised.
Envy said quickly, “There’s nothing wrong with Cash loving his baby daughter.”
“I bet you wish you’d had more time to spend with your kids, Mr Applegate,” said Bob. “You know, up-and-coming millionaire and all.”
This was met with an uncomprehending silence, until Envy coughed and said, “Bob trains dogs who rescue people from earthquakes.”
“Like when buildings collapse?” asked Edwina, an unwitting ally.
“Exactly like that,” said Envy.
“Do you personally supervise the excavations?” asked Darwin.
“No,” said Bob. “I just train the dogs.”
“Oh,” said Darwin.
They took their seats in the smaller family dining room. The table cloth was a white embroidered coffee-coloured sateen, with fresh-picked violets packed into three tiny vases set evenly spaced upon the table. They would wilt within a few hours.
A server brought in their dinner, platter by platter; each of them were casually passed around the table. Steak, roasted vegetables, truffled mushrooms.
Envy put her hand in her lap and glanced at her watch. Oh god. Seriously? We’ve only been her forty-five minutes? She looked around the table. No one was smiling. It could be worse, surely?
“This chimichurri is outstanding,” said Bob, making an effort.
“Thank you,” said Edwina. “Our cook, Connie, is from Peru.”
“Legally?” asked Bob.
Envy discreetly reached under the table, put her hand on Bob’s thigh, and squeezed. It was a warning and a plea. Bob took it as encouragement. He put his hand on hers and squeezed back.
“Just what do you mean by that, Bob?” asked Darwin, his voice disturbingly neutral in tone.
“Well I hear a lot of servants are in the country illegally, I mean it is commonplace. Probably all your friends do it too.”
“Connie was hired via a respectable agency,” said Edwina.
“Ah,” said Bob. “Good on you, then.” He lifted his wine glass in a toast, and emptied it in one gulp. He turned to Envy and smiled. His expression was, See? Not so bad after all, right?
Pretty bad, Envy’s eyes told him. She wasn’t sure if he got the message, because as the server was refilling his wine glass, Bob was staring at her mother. Then a quick glance at her father, and back to Edwina again. Woman past her prime. Rich old bigot who dyes his hair.
An odd kind of group telepathy seemed to occur. Edwina looked up and caught his Bob’s eye. Darwin looked at them both. No one looked at Envy. In a flash she knew what Bob was thinking. Don’t say it Don’t say it Don’t say it.
“I believe in family values,” said Darwin abruptly. He knew what this fucking young and ignorant man was thinking, oh yes he did.
“In my experience, family values people are the first ones to cheat on their, uh, spouses,” said Bob. He cut a roasted carrot into tiny pieces. “You know those bible thumper types, always being caught with their pants down.”
“That’s ridiculous,” said Darwin. “We believe in Jesus Christ in this household, and the Church believes in the family above all else.”
“Catholic, right?” asked Bob.
“We are Catholic, yes,” said Envy. Jesus God, if you’re there, help!
“‘We’?” said Bob.
Oops. She hadn’t told Bob that she’d returned to the church after Marcos tried to kill her. Was that an important ommission?
She stood up. “We have to go,” she said.
“Sit down, Envy,” said her father.
“No, we really do. We have tickets,” Envy said. “Bob?”
“If they have tickets, Darwin…” her mother said, the colour starting to return to her face.
Bob stood up. Someone fetched their jackets. Bob didn’t speak again until he said, “It was sure interesting meeting you both,” as they shook hands in parting.
Her parents, not being honesty radicals, were silent.
Fluffy Pool 