what you sow

[katrea]

On the doorstep of a townhome in New York City, a basket is placed.

The doorbell rings.

There are footsteps, and then there are not.

Comments

[pythbox]

"You can have this if you want," says Elizabeth, waving the banana peel like a small floppy flag, "otherwise I'll throw it out."

[katrea]

"I could eat it but I'm not hungry any more."

[pythbox]

Elizabeth shrugs and puts the peel in the compost bucket.

[katrea]

"How long will it take to find where I am from?"

[pythbox]

"Dunno."

[katrea]

"What if it is a long time?"

[pythbox]

Elizabeth shrugs. "Dunno."

[katrea]

"Hmm."

[pythbox]

She plops herself down in a kitchen chair.

[katrea]

The unbasketgirl tries to climb into another one, falls on her butt, and tries again successfully.

[pythbox]

"Are you okay?"

[katrea]

"Yeah."

[pythbox]

"Okay."

[katrea]

Unbasketgirl swings her legs and looks around the kitchen thoughtfully. "What if I don't have parents after all?"

[pythbox]

"You have somebody," says Elizabeth. "The question's if Chris can find them or not."

[katrea]

"What if they aren't findable, then?"

[pythbox]

"Then I guess you stay."

[katrea]

"Here?"

[pythbox]

"Yeah. If you want," says Elizabeth.

[katrea]

"Okay," shrugs unbasketgirl.

[pythbox]

"I don't know for sure if Chris will let you stay forever," she feels compelled to mention, "but I bet she will."

[katrea]

"Where else would I go?"

[pythbox]

"I dunno."

[katrea]

"What kinda places are there in the world?"

[pythbox]

"...What kinds of kinds do you mean?" she wonders. "Like houses and schools, or like towns and cities?"