Fiction: Good Suburban People, Part 2

“You’re not a loser, Joy. You just have…circumstances.”

“Yes, I’ve lost my leg and my life. All because your stupid ex-boyfriend couldn’t drive…”

The words, though simple, landed like a bomb. Joy’s mother never liked to talk plainly about her accident.  “You can’t live in the past!” she would say brightly.  “Just keep moving forward.”

“We broke up right after it happened. I don’t know how many times I have to say I’m sorry, Helga.” Suddenly the name wasn’t so hard on Mrs. Hopewell’s tongue. It was probably a defense mechanism anyway, like she heard about on Dr. Phil. Maybe if she was patient with this stage, someday her daughter would find her way back to being lovely, lighthearted Joy.

 Sometimes, at night, Mrs. Hopewell watched old home movies of little Joy making faces at the camera or telling stories to their dog, and she wondered where that girl went. Something on Joy’s phone made a sound and she went back to it like it called her name. She would zone out in front of it, as if it were pumping something vital into her veins. “It’s a lovely day out there, and you are just staring at some stupid screen.” Mrs. Hopewell said, but the argument was more one of habit then passion.

“Kara from high school is pregnant again.”Joy scrolled down on the social-networking page, half-eager, half repulsed.

“Isn’t that nice for her? Is this the second or third now?”Her daughter thought she was trying too hard to be interested, whether from some thwarted urge for grandchildren or some article on engaging an angry  daughter, Helga couldn't say.

“Third, I think, and she’s just my age..it’s kind of disgusting.”

“Well, it’s nature, Joy, but it’s not a contest.”

“Breeding may be natural,” Helga said, trying not to wince at the implied pep talk and the use of the old name that dogged her. “but I don’t think nature meant for us to snap pictures of our pee-sticks.”

“You are probably right about that! She’s just excited, though.” Mrs. Hopewell hesitated, feeling the question “Don’t you remember when you used to be excited?” hovering on her tongue.

“You didn’t need to break up with him.” Helga said flatly. “I would have gotten over it.”

“Of course I did. You’re my everything, Joy.”

“No pressure….”

“What does that mean?”

“ Never mind.” She was relieved that BibleMan22 sent her another message.  She liked hearing from him more than she let herself admit, but his “Hey…” was kind of a letdown.Get out of my head, Mother,she admonished.

“What are you wearing?” Not her usual gambit, but she liked the idea of turning him into her own personal beefcake. He was cute, underneath the weird clothes and rustic haircut.

“Nothing special. Shorts and a t-shirt. But I have one question…”

Helga’s heart sank. Her fantasy of herself as a sexy temptress was completely undone by the thought that she knew what the question was. Still, she was no chicken, and it wasn’t like her desultory pursuit of an online BA consumed her days or anything.Still, this question again.  She almost wished he’d asked to see her tits. “What happened 2 yr leg?"