Radio Silent by Tudor Robins

Author:Tudor Robins [T.E. Robins]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tudor Robins
Published: 2023-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

I drive back under the flashing light at the junction on my way to Faye’s and it makes me think of this place — of Oak Junction — of Dave quizzing me about how much time I’ve been spending here. Of my own thoughts, when I left here for journalism school — that I’d achieve success in quick leaps. That I’d probably have to move to Toronto to find an outlet big enough for my writing abilities.

I had a whole narrative built up in my head, how I’d go reluctantly, and I’d complain about the big city just like everybody else does. That when I came back here for short holiday visits, I’d find it charming, and maybe I’d run into one or two of my high school classmates and we’d all comment on the soullessness of Toronto, and the quaintness of Oak Junction — then we’d all go back to the big city.

That obviously hasn’t happened, and I don’t think I want it to. So many things look different to me now, including this place.

I don’t think it’s either somewhere stifling to be escaped from, or some idyllic small town to come home to.

In just the last few days, I’ve encountered friendship and hostility. Safety and danger. Good and bad intentions.

This place is complicated, and on that linguistic cop-out, I turn onto Faye’s street.

***

Faye, no surprise, has a beautiful kitchen. I’d almost say it could be in a magazine, except there’s soul in her decor. It reflects how she likes to live — practical and clean, with money spent on the things that are important to her.

For her wedding, Faye registered for a stoneware set so expensive I could only afford to buy her a single salad plate. That set is now discontinued and becomes more valuable every year … yet those are the plates she has out for us to use tonight, and those are the plates her children have eaten from throughout their upbringing.

Faye’s never posh, or perfect, to be pretentious. She’s just those things because that’s how she is.

“This looks amazing.” When I say it, I mean everything. The expanse of uncluttered counter. Her island which has drawers and a sink and, by itself, is the size of my apartment bathroom at home. Even Charlotte, who probably should be at some sort of awkward, scribbled make-up, and statement clothing stage, slamming through the room without talking to us, instead appears freshly showered, wearing clothes that suit her and maybe a hint of tasteful lip gloss. She gives each of us a kiss on the cheek and her mother calls, “Have fun at Pen’s!”

I giggle as we sit at the island by a huge bowl of salad. I lift my plate. “I think this is the one I bought for you!”

She laughs. “That’s my favourite plate.”

“Is it really the one?”

She shrugs. “Well, yes, in that every time I take a salad plate out, I think ‘This is the one Paige bought for our wedding.’ It was so sweet of you — I know how little money you had then.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.