Franny breathed in deeply. Standing in front of a group of people all trying hard to celebrate the life of a dear friend, when they also needed to mourn, made her dizzy. She let out the breath, and continued. “Marilyn was not sentimental. She was sharp. Her mind, her intellect, always led her. She took … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 77 Reboot
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Pine Street Episode 75 Reboot
About three months after Marilyn’s garden hosted her wedding to Douglas with flowers, friends, and food, it hosted a celebration of life with leaves tinged in gold. The friends and food, they were there again, too. Kassandra, who had felt so uncomfortable at the wedding, was unaccountably at ease at the celebration of Marilyn’s life. … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 75 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 74 Reboot
Marilyn’s cancer had sped through her body. The night of her wedding, it attacked her lungs. Soon its metastasizing cells had colonized her liver, and were planting their ugly flag of territorial possession in her brain. Douglas wept when he wasn’t with her. His love for Marilyn, always a warm glow in his heart, turned … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 74 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 73 Reboot
“Cancer sucks.” Marilyn chuckled softly. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” “What kind do you have?” Franny asked. She had been curious since finding out Marilyn was ill. She’d assumed cancer, but had never brought up the subject herself. Marilyn never made room for this conversation, not until now, in the hospital. “Not me, dear,” … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 73 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 72 Reboot
“You could have called me,” Franny said. “Yes,” Leo answered. “I missed saying goodbye. I would have wanted to be there. I would have wanted to say goodbye.” “I know.” “Why? Why didn’t you call me? Were you still mad at me?” Leo shook his head. Sitting in Marilyn’s garden, letting Precious sniff around her … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 72 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 71 Reboot
Leo was there. The passing of life is momentous and minuscule, at the same time. A person is breathing, and then, that person is no longer breathing. Sitting beside the hospital bed, murmuring quietly with other family members, suddenly one person asks: Did you hear that? No, says another. The room fills with silence. When … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 71 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 70 Reboot
Funerals are nearly universally dreaded, at least in modern, middle-class, secular American culture. We do not look to them to provide true community and comfort. They are formal, sometimes sterile events that we check off our to-do lists, after we drag out that one black dress we own, or that one black suit along with … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 70 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 69 Reboot
Allison watched the mini-drama unfold down the block, and sighed with relief. She put down the leaf rake, stepped inside to heat up a cup of tea, and went to the old wooden Adirondack chair perched on a wobbly patch of grass in her back yard. The seat had been warmed by the sun and … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 69 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 68 Reboot
“Leo,” Franny said. “Hi.” “How are you, Franny?” Leo asked, still kneeling to scratch Precious’s ears. “It’s been a while. I’ve been thinking about you. I meant to call.” Stop talking, Leo thought. You’re doing that thing, where you ask a question and then don’t give the person a chance to answer. “How about I … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 68 Reboot
Pine Street Episode 67 Reboot
Allison saw the meeting between Leo, Franny, and Precious from her vantage point of raking leaves in her front yard. The sight of the three of them, looking for all the world like a family, set off a pang deep in Allison’s solar plexus. She was not in love with Leo. That had been made … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 67 Reboot
Elizabeth Fountain, Author 