While the counter woman at the laundry
looked for me on her screen, she said, “Oh,
it’s almost March. My husband died
three months ago today, and my mother
three months ago today, and my mother
is dying right now, and my brother died
one year ago this coming Sunday,” and
one year ago this coming Sunday,” and
she might have continued if I hadn’t
interrupted to tell her I was sorry for
interrupted to tell her I was sorry for
all the grief in her life, all I could think
to say, and she put her seal on it, saying,
to say, and she put her seal on it, saying,
“God’s plan.” You need a better-planning God,
I thought. “God’s plan for us all,” she said. “My
I thought. “God’s plan for us all,” she said. “My
