ARR 1988 - Flipbook - Page 21
memory of a book or maybe a play she had read in the past, a lovely name
rolled off her tongue: Ophelia. Of course. That was just right. Such a
charming name for a plant but now there was the little one. Only fair that
it had a name too. Then it came to her, the perfect combination considering
the miracle of what had happened. Ophelia-Joy. That was perfect.
But then another rather frightening thought came and startled her.
Now that she was a mother, Ophelia-Joy would need to have more beer. She
never seemed to get enough. Every day it was at least several spoonfuls and
today she gulped up half a can. Then there were the vitamins, too. It was
getting to be quite an expense.
"I don't know," she mumbled a bit angrily. "I brought you home but I
didn't know you were going to like beer so much. I don't think I can afford
it. I didn't know you were in the family way. That's not my fault."
She fell asleep without saying prayers and had bad dreams about
monstrous plants growing up the wall and each in tum silently demanding
a share of her precious nightly six-pack.
The languid summer wore on but the plant continued to thrive on its
unusual diet. One morning Mary B. discovered that Ophelia Joy was
growing out of the pot as roots were poking out of the bottom hole. She was
puzzled for a bit until she realized that plants grew from inside up and this
one needed a new home now.
There was only one solution so, after getting dressed, she picked up
Ophelia -Joy and put the plant next to her chest, inside of the voluminous
coat, being careful not to bend any tender leaves and walked down the stairs,
tip-toeing past Mrs. Rapinski's door. She wore the coat all the time so it
wouldn't look strange, but what if Mrs. Rapin ski popped out and demanded
to know what she was carrying under it? There were no rules against plants
in the apartment, but it might seem weird if Mrs. Rapinski found out that
Mary B. was taking her plant for a walk! She giggled at the thought and
whispered at Ophelia-Joy: "Now you be quiet and don't wiggle your leaves
and she'll never know you're under here."
She deliberated a long time in the plant department of the dime store,
studying each container while trying to decide which one would look best and
finally selected a nice white one which seemed exactly right. She was
shocked at the price, though, and mentally figured out what she would have
to give up if she bought it ... more than two six-packs and no more candy for
a week!
Finally, she sighed deeply and dug the money out of a special hoard in her
purse.
"Damn it, Ophelia," she spoke rather crossly into her coat as she left
the store. "You're really beginning to be expensive."
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