Chapter 19 - THE CHEAP VASE
Paige gave me homework.
Buy a vase with Primrose.
“Why?”
“Because she avoids them.”
I stared.
“Is this exposure therapy or shopping?”
“Both if you behave.”
We went to a home store.
Rows of vases.
Ceramic.
Glass.
Metal.
Primrose kept her hands behind her back.
I said:
“You can touch.”
“No.”
“Okay.”
We walked.
She stopped at a small green ceramic vase.
Price:
$12.99.
“Cheap?”
“Yes.”
“Can break?”
“Yes.”
“Then why buy?”
“For flowers.”
She thought.
“What if break?”
“Then we clean it.”
She looked at me suspiciously.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She picked it up with both hands.
Carried it to checkout.
At home, she put three daisies inside.
Then chose the worst possible location:
Edge of kitchen island.
I moved it six inches inward.
She noticed.
“You scared?”
“Reasonably.”
“Why?”
“Because edges are risky.”
“Then Grandma vase should move.”
I laughed.
“Apparently.”
That was the difference.
Carefulness without shame.
We kept the green vase.
May you like
It survived.
Mostly because I kept moving it away from edges.
