For the Monkey

[kennyc]

I've read several things by Peggy Shumaker lately that I've been quite impressed by such as "Moving Water, Tucson" which is included as an example in this writing craft essay by the author: https://www.creativenonfiction.org/b...prosepoems.htm

but here's one for the Monkey from her:

Bananas

After my mother's funeral, when my siblings needed to be sure of the truth, they'd demand, "Swear on Mom's grave?" I couldn't stand it,
couldn't stand to hear it, couldn't stand to see it in my mind again.

I told the other kids I never wanted to hear that again. At first that just
made them say it more. After enough badgering though, the kids agreed on a
code that meant "Swear on mom's grave?"

So we shifted. When we were pretty sure one of us was lying, we'd tilt our heads and ask gravely, "Bananas?"

Outsiders couldn't imagine the gravity of that tropical fruit.

- Peggy Shumaker

If you are interested in seeing more a preview of the ebook is available on google books:
http://books.google.com/books?id=SDh...gbs_navlinks_s

or amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Breathe-Normal...eathe+normally

I just received a used copy of the hardback.