Page 115 of The Secret to Belonging

she’ll pick you up at nine

compared to Gledevik’s placid fjord

the Pacific is all churning motion

breakers crash on the shore

surfers bob on their boards

lifeguards patrol the beach

children romp in the waves

you follow Jeanine across hot sand

to a covered pavilion overflowing with people

grilling hot dogs

flying kites

playing volleyball

Maura leaps from a bench and scoops you into a hug

you burst into tears

she laughs

you cry more than anyone i’ve ever known

seeing her

touching her

brings everything back

makes everything true

she hugs you again and whispers

det var ikke en drøm

it wasn’t a dream

Maura hands you a soft package

from Elinor

you pull out a blanket woven in husflid colors

purples, blues, fuchsias, teals

your pledd

she said everyone at school

took turns at the loom