Throughout the book, I tried to work in scenes that show how other people see little Karen, so it is not written entirely from her point of view. In this one, we get a glimpse of her mother’s commitment to her. No matter what happens, she will try to balance her child’s need to grow up into a strong woman with her little girl’s need for someone to watch over her.

Scene 07: Mama Silently Follows

Mama put down the knife she had used to cut the lox. Gathering the salmon and cream cheese, she set the still-open containers on the top shelf of the fridge, along with the bagel she had spread. The others could wait on the counter. She had to catch up with her Kitten.

What if she collapses and cracks her head open on the sidewalk? What if she faints? She will be furious if she turns around and sees me, but I just can’t let her go alone. I will stay with her, even if she walks to the pier every day.

©2021, Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.