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]

"If they died? I dunno," says Elizabeth. "If you were really little, I guess. Do you remember anything though? Because if you don't remember anything then that's a really good reason why you wouldn't remember your parents."

[katrea]

"I..." Unbasketgirl scrunches her eyes shut and frowns intently. It is a long moment of thought before she says, "The sun. It was up. Now it isn't."

[pythbox]

"That's something, I guess," Elizabeth says doubtfully.

[katrea]

"I think I like the sun," says unbasketgirl in a helpful voice.

[pythbox]

"I like the sun too," says Elizabeth. "Except when it gets too bright and it's hard to see."

[katrea]

"I don't remember that happening," volunteers unbasketgirl after a moment.

[pythbox]

Elizabeth regards her thoughtfully.

[katrea]

"You're named 'lizbeth?" abbreviates unbasketgirl in her peculiar accent.

[pythbox]

"Close enough," says more-or-less-Lizbeth.

[katrea]

"Should I be named something?"

[pythbox]

"Probably."

[katrea]

"What?"

[pythbox]

She shrugs. "I dunno. Maybe you already have one and we just don't know it."

[katrea]

"I want to know it."

[pythbox]

"Maybe Chris will find somebody who does."

[katrea]

"Chris?"

[pythbox]

"My aunt who's looking for your parents or whatever."

[katrea]

"How does she know where to look?"

[pythbox]

"I dunno. She didn't say."

[katrea]

"Oh." Unbasket girl taps her hands on her knees thoughtfully, then says, "I'm hungry."

[pythbox]

"We have snacks," says Lizbeth. "C'mon."

She leads the way to the kitchen.

[katrea]

Unbasket girl declares string cheese, potato chips, shortbread cookies, yogurt, salted peanuts, and leftover chicken salad "not food" before her gaze lights on the fruit bowl. She can't reach it. "Can I have the orange one?"

[pythbox]

"Sure," says Elizabeth. She reaches into the bowl and hands the girl an orange.

[katrea]

The girl bites directly into the orange peel, and, apparently quite content with the results, chews on the pith.

[pythbox]

"The inside part's good too," she advises.