SHELBY & KRYSTAL & KIM

Full story originally appeared in The Malahat Review.

Ca. 2021. For at least twenty minutes the wait staff of Eileithyia’s Downtown Grill have been neglecting the three women occupying the back booth. Each time a server passes, ferrying another tray and ignoring their signals, the women’s mood further sours. Eventually they flag down a passing busboy, and soon enough a server arrives to brief them on specials and query about drink orders. One of the women admits to not knowing much about wine, saying she’ll have to trust him as far as what goes with what. The server recommends a not-too-pricey Maréchal Foch; another of the women says this sounds fine.

You all seem like family, the server remarks. You must be sisters.

We must, one of the women says, but how would you ever know?

We buried our father today, another of the women cuts in. Please don’t let us starve to death here. This place is far too lovely for that.

The server says he’ll be right back to take their orders.

Read the rest here.