New Here • JB

Dear Mama

It was Dawn. The grass had dew drops on the tips and the birds chirped avidly. A slight fog fell over Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Justin sat in front of Pattie Mallete's ornate grave on a gingham patterned blanket. I sat on a bench nearby after he'd expressed that he wanted some time to speak with her. His hand motions were animated as if she were replying and his laughs were so jovial as if she were egging him on, but in truth the hill on which she was immortalized was relatively silent. It was already a chilly day which Justin couldn't stop bragging about, insisting that some cold fresh air would be a nice change for the baby as opposed to the usual LA smog. I asked who he thought he was and he grinned from ear to ear and simply said,

"Bill Nye." My silly boy. A breeze rolls across the cemetery and I shudder a little bit and then sneeze. I cough and then pull at the sleeves of my black jacket dress. Justin looks towards me, eyes worried and hands already tugging at his hoodie. The last thing I want to do is distract him from his mother. He stands up and strolls towards me.

"Told you to wear something warmer" he sits on the bench and runs his hands up and down my legs in an effort to warm them up. I shudder again though this time I'm not sure if it's from the friction or the cold.

"I'm fine Jay, you worry so much" I tease and he grins.

"You're worth worrying about. C'mon, come meet mom" he takes my hand and walks me over to her grave.