mom is getting out of prison and I have to go pick her up. You said, what the fuck? And the tone
in which you said it made me defensive and then everythingexploded. We were both yelling and
I just wanted you to listen, that yes I knew thiswould happen but I didn’t know it would happen
so soon, that I don’t know how long I’d be gone orwhere exactly I’d go after picking her up, that
no I didn’t trust you enough to tell you the truthbecause no one likes the truth but I really like
you, but neither of us listened to each other. Youthrew the pot with my baby cactus against the
wall so hard it left a dent. You knew I hated thingslike that, that I never wanted a relationship in
which anger was expressed through show of force. Afteryou threw it, everything was silent. I
realized I had covered my ears with my hands likeI used to do when Mama and my father
fought. I picked up my suitcase and I left.
29 September 1969 The Dew Drop Inn Motel, 100 FernHill Rd, Forks, WA 98331-9021
Kate. Mom and I spent the past two days in the trailsof the Hoh Rainforest. Did you
know Washington state has a rainforest? Because Ididn’t. It’s about 65 degrees and everything is
wet and saturated in green. I’ve never seen so muchmoss in my life. We stopped by a cold little
creek and mom reached down to pluck out a pebble.It was so smooth it was flat on the top,
almost soft when you brush your thumb across it. Shecalls it a worry stone. Apparently, you rub
it when you’re anxious and it will ground you. I thoughtshe would keep it for herself, but she
made me take it.
She’s been telling me about her time in prison. Sheand some of the other women made a
little family. There was Delilah, the 21-year-oldthat broke into a convenience store and stole
hundreds of dollars, as well as a single bag of chips.Lorraine, the 60-year-old who ran over her