Dinosaur Bones
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 11:50PM Unlike every other family vacation Roland had been cruelly subjected to, this one seemed like a good place to start.
Roland watched his dad move out and then watched his new dad move in before his little sister Kelsie learned how to blow kisses. They went to Florida that year and Roland thought he could hide in plain sight in the area parents go to look for their kids when they've given up hope.
Then he watched his mom get sick, the kind of sick that makes you hate the taste of jello even though it was your most favourite treat in the summer (or any time of year) because the more jello mom ate, the sicker she got, and Roland didn't want to get sick. This all happened before Kelsie learned the alphabet. They went to Colorado that year because it was quiet and in the middle, two concepts Roland would never really understand.
Then he watched his new dad pick a new mom for Roland and Kelsie. She was bad at picking out presents for the two of them because she always bought them novelty sized toothbrushes and towels of football teams in Canada. Roland didn't even know they had football in Canada. The new mom was especially bad at presents because she brought Roland and Kelsie a new brother and sister, who loved to brush their teeth while watching Canadian football. They had a wedding ceremony even though Roland saw his new dad kissing a picture of his mom that morning. That was before Kelsie knew her multiplication table. The family went to Mexico, and though Roland loved seeing all the bright tropical fish, he tried to not like them too much because his mom would have loved them.
Then he watched his new mom and his new dad turn old, and started to wonder when his new-new mom and new-new dad would arrive. Eventually they both fell into a permanent sleep (though not at the same time) and Roland realized he was the new-new dad. That happened before Kelsie knew about the birds and the bees, so Roland had to teach her. This year, Roland, Kelsie and the new brother and sister are going to Canada to cheer for Canadian football teams, with a stop at the aquarium to see the tropical fish.
Reader Comments (1)
A conclusion about revisiting old, closely held injury, and a fear of primary living? It feels hollow, like something stopped Roland from growing into his own person. I don't think I get it.