(no subject)

[rivka]

From William Sleator's book Oddballs, a collection of mostly true stories about his family:

One summer evening, a group of us went to a fountain in the park, where there was always a crowd of people watching the patterns of colored lights on the falling water. Vicky had with her a small watermelon, carefully wrapped in a blanket and a frilly bonnet, no rind exposed, so that it resembled a very young baby. With the rest of us strategically placed among the crowd, Vicky cradled the baby in her arms, rocking it, murmuring to it about the pretty fountain. Bystanders smiled.
Then Vicky's voice grew louder. "You don't care about the pretty fountain, do you?" she chided the baby. "You don't care about anything but yourself. I'm getting kind of sick of that, you know?"
People were giving her funny looks. "I can't even go to the park without having to drag you along!" Vicky angrily accused the baby. "And your father never lifts a finger to take care of you. And all you do is make messes and scream and cry and keep me awake at night. I can't stand it anymore!" she cried, her voice becoming hysterical. "I just can't!"
People moved away from Vicky, murmuring. She stepped toward the fountain. "I can't stand it for one more second, I can't, I can't!" she screamed, lifting the baby over the water.
"No! Stop! Don't do it!" several of us shouted, running toward her.
But we were too late. With a demented shriek, Vicky hurled the baby into the shallow fountain, smashing the watermelon into a pulpy red mush. Then we got out of there, fast, before the stunned bystanders noticed the seeds.

Vicky Sleator Wald - my aunt - died yesterday after a long and mysterious illness. I'm sure this is at least part of how she'd like to be remembered.

Comments

[submarine-bells.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing it. Your aunt sounds as though she was a fascinating person, if that episode is representative. My condolences on her passing.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Oh darling... first, my condolences on the loss of your aunt. Second, that's a wonderfully goofy story.

[melebeth]

I'm so sorry about the loss of your aunt... that's a wonderful story.

And it made so much more sense when, the third time I read the introduction, I finally realized that you hadn't typed "William Shatner"

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

What a marvelous story to remember your aunt by! I hope your family and friends find comfort in sharing their stories.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

That's disturbing. And funny. And you're related to William Sleator?

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Only by marriage. His sister Vicky married my dad's brother Dave. But it does mean that I've gotten to meet him at family events.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

You seem to come from truly wonderful stock, dear Rivka.