The River and Me

Cannonball

Saturday morning, Evette’s family pulls into the driveway of Grandma and Grandpa Peeters’ house, the first time everyone has come to swim together in over a year. Grandma and Grandpa hurry off the porch with their arms open wide, remarking how long it has been. Grandma marvels at how tall Evette has grown, and Grandpa tells Bud the same.

Out back, chips and lemonade wait on the patio table, but Bud and Evette race straight for the pool and cannonball in together while Grandma laughs and jumps in after them. Treading water, Grandma compliments Evette’s sunflower bathing suit. Evette says Gran E gave it to her. Grandma’s eyes dart at the name, and she asks, carefully, how Gran E is doing. Evette says she’s fine, though Gran E’s old swimming hole has been polluted. Grandma looks genuinely sorry to hear it.

Floating on her back, Evette decides this might be her only chance to learn the truth about her grandmothers. She turns to Grandma and asks, plainly, what happened between her and Gran E. Grandma looks startled and asks if Gran E said something. Evette admits, sort of. They invited Gran E to come swimming today, and she said she wouldn’t swim here even if someone paid her. After a long pause, Grandma decides Evette is old enough to hear it.

Grandma explains that when Evette’s mom and dad were getting married, Grandma and Grandpa were pleased. They knew Mom was a kind and accomplished woman. But when Gran E offered to host the reception at her house, they insisted on hosting it at theirs instead, since their house was bigger and they pictured guests around the pool and cake on the patio.

Evette says she knows the reception was here; she’s seen pictures. Grandma nods and says it was lovely, but Gran E wasn’t happy about it. She left before the cake was even cut and never came back.

Grandma continues her story. On the day Mom and Dad came over to share the wedding plans, she said Gran E’s house was in a bad neighborhood. Dad responded that it’s a Black neighborhood, but it’s safe. She shook her head and said the guests shouldn’t be there, that criminals might steal the gifts or their cars. After the wedding, Mom let it go, but Gran E never did.

That day split the family in two. For as long as Evette can remember, holidays have been divided: Thanksgiving dinner with Gran E, dessert with Grandma and Grandpa Peeters. Gran E is always busy on their birthdays. Evette had never questioned it before. Upset, she climbs out of the pool.

Grandma asks if Evette is okay. Evette turns and says that just because Gran E lives in a Black neighborhood doesn’t mean it’s filled with criminals, and that’s a racist thing to think. Grandma probably didn’t mean to be racist, but what she said is racism.

Grandma goes silent. Evette asks if she’s ever been to Gran E’s neighborhood, and Grandma shakes her head. She admits she’s ashamed of what she said and knows now it was wrong and racist; she wishes she could take it back, but she can’t. Evette asks if she ever apologized. Grandma says she was afraid to stir things up again. They’ve invited Gran E to their house multiple times to smooth things over, but she always had an excuse not to come. Evette says inviting someone to their house isn’t the same as apologizing. Grandma agrees, but asks how she can apologize if Gran E won’t speak to her.

Evette places her hand on Grandma’s trembling arm, wondering if this conversation is as hard for her as it is for Evette. Grandma says she isn’t proud of what she said back then, but she loves Mom, Evette, and Bud, and knows Gran E is a wonderful grandmother. Evette asks if Grandma can apologize now. Grandma responds that she thinks it’s too late for that.

Evette thinks about what Gran E had said. Changing Gran E’s mind won’t be easy. Maybe it is too late.