Michael Keshigian: Afternoon Barbecue

The women share a secret, chattering until we enter their circle, giggling when they think we can’t see. We ask them for a hint but they only lower their eyes and smile delicately from the corners of their mouths. It only increases our desire to know. Perhaps it was something they did long ago, consequences notwithstanding, the memory possesses a lingering sweetness. This might explain their camaraderie, the way they rest their chins on the curl of their fists, stare at each other with intense intrigue. Tell us one story or give us a clue. Whisper a sentence or even a word that might carry in the warm summer breeze when you close your eyes to remember. Copyright Michael Keshigian. Reprinted here by kind permission of the author.