Sunset Travel for Single Seniors
KATHERINE KOLLER
After her Oscar died tangled in the wheels of his tractor last spring, Oscar’s brother Frank came over just the same. Although Frank had taken meals with Violet for twenty years, the only sound he’d made in that period followed a swallow of her crab-apple cider, “Aahh.” Tonight, Violet added candles to the table for liveliness.
Frank hardly looked up. While he carved his marinated flank steak, Violet let loose about her daughter and son going through separations at opposite ends of the province. Frank was the ideal audience because he never interrupted. He took a second helping of scalloped potatoes as Violet got going.
“If they’d stayed put after they married and had me to help out, they would not be considering divorce at all. And will they bring the grandkids to Red Deer anymore? When they were all here for Oscar’s funeral, I never noticed any difficulties. They ate and slept well, and really, Frank, what more can we ask for? Now they’re both living apart. The cost must be crazy. They’re spending their inheritance on divorces. Nothing like this happened until they got their cheques last summer. Personally, I think teachers have too much time off. If they worked year round, they wouldn’t be plotting to get out of their marriages.” Frank took more garden beans.
“It’s so good to have you to talk to, Frank.”
She wanted to pat his hand. To her surprise, Frank patted hers. Frank could read her silence. She wondered if he read her mind.
Violet, a shy fifteen, had stood maid of honor for Frank and Edna. Frank had asked her to dance and she thrilled to have her soft moist hand in his great rough steady one. When he held her hand and moved her to the swelling music, she in her pink dress and ivory jacket, Violet grew up all in a moment. Her heart sprung open, ready for love. She bloomed. A candle lit for the first time.
“You’re going to break a heart one day, Violet,” Frank whispered. Violet was thankful he didn’t use his full voice. His comment reached her and only her and she cherished it.
Then Frank handed her off to his brother Oscar.