June 2024 Flash Lit 7.1 - Peach

Jenn sat in the back of the van with Simon and Willa, like an extra kid.  Her friend Dolly had invited her to join the family for peach-picking and Jenn had said yes.

She was glad she was going.  What was not to like about peaches?  She loved Dolly and her husband Marco.  Simon and Willa, at 7 and 5, were fun to play with.  But even as Jenn listened to the complicated adventure that Captain America was having with  Willa’s very grubby unicorn, she felt sad.

 

Dolly and Marco were talking about some detail at their shop.  It was nothing deep or hard, but they were working through a snag with a supplier together.

 

“Nyroooooom!” Simon buzzed Jenn’s face with Cap.

 

“Oh no!” she cried.  “Cap has to watch out for Evil Claw Monster!”  She flexed her wrists and hands into a menacing position and pretended to attack the action figure.

 

“Uni saves you!” Willa said, poking the soft stuffed horn into Jenn.

 

Jenn made her claws die a dramatic and silly death.  The kids dissolved into giggles.  She loved their happiness and still she felt sad.

 

Seth had been invited, too, but he said no.  He always said no.

 

As everyone piled out of the van into the sunshine and the smell of peaches, Jenn, surrounded by her friends, still felt her heart breaking with loneliness.