Read The Shoes Come First: A Jennifer Cloud Novel Page 6

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  After dinner my dad called for a family meeting. We gathered around the glass-top kitchen table. My dad sat at the head of the table in a yellow padded cane chair, and the rest of us filed in around the table for our typical family meeting. These were held when there was a major crisis in the family, when a major decision needed to be voted on, or when someone died. I assumed this was about my gift, because Mom made cookies. If someone had died, there would be pudding (a comfort dessert), and a major crisis usually got us chocolate cake.

  Dad reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the letter I had received that morning. “It seems Jennifer has been given a very special gift from Aint Elma.”

  “Yeah, a toilet.” Eli laughed and made farting sounds with his armpit.

  My dad cleared his throat and looked at Eli over the rim of his glasses. Eli went into sulk mode, and my dad sighed.

  “I called Mamma Bea, and she said all Aint Elma could talk about the last month before she died was how important it was for Jennifer to have the outhouse if something were to happen to her.” Dad looked me square in the eyes. “It was almost as if she knew her time was coming to an end.”