FOOTHILLS TIMES SEPTEMBER 2017 SEPTEMBER 2017 WHOLE MAG 2017 | Page 50

PICT URE SEARCH
Solution to puzzle found on page 59
FIND 8 DIFFERENCE IN THESE PICTURES
CORN
DOGS
Polaroid
“Would you hold the camera still?” Deb wipes her hand over her
greasy bumpy forehead then thumps it back in the sand.
“I'm trying, I'm trying.” My daughter's forehead creases up like Deb's.
I mutter through my teeth careful to keep my smile and head perfectly
crooked, “Deb she's only 5!”
by Bridget Bunch
Deb squints her eyes and bobs her head forward. “Uggh, I look horrible.”
She puts her hand to her head and starts smoothing whatever imaginary
hair she saw sticking up in the picture.
“John why didn't you tell me?” Deb whines.
Ashley places the photo on the beach towel near my feet.
“I just want this picture to turn out nice; you know we never get
pictures of just ourselves anymore.” My wife's voice almost sounded
sweet. Irritation spread from my core out to my fingers and made
them tingle. I focus on forcing my rear end farther in the sand, “Well,
we have more important things to worry about.”
“Say cheese!” Ashley's shrill voice sends a warm cloud throughout
my body, calming the tingling.
“Cheese!” The camera makes a grinding sound and spits out the
Polaroid of our faces. Ashley rips the picture from its mouth and
shakes the picture with all her might.
Deb leans over and stretches out her arm, her wiggling fingers barely touch
the lens of the camera that is still in Ashley's hand. “Give mommy the
camera.”
“No! One more.” Her smile turns sly. I look over at Deb, her mouth is
locked. I say in the sweetest voice I can muster. “Okay, sweetheart. Smile
Deb.” She turns her tight lips to me and tips them up at the ends. It reminds
me of how attractive she once was to me. The flash goes off and the
camera spits us out again. Deb snatches the Polaroid from the camera's
mouth before Ashley can, “Okay, honey that's enough.” Ashley frowns,
“Can I hold onto it?”
She slows down then holds the picture out at arm's length. “It didn't
work.”
I reach out my hand, “Here, let me fix it for you.” She gives it to me and
I blow on the gray blobs and the faces slowly appear. I hesitate
before handing the picture back curious to look at how others see us.
I notice our hands were temptingly close. Deb looks at the vintage camera gifted to her from her boss. I sigh,
remembering that I have to keep the peace for the kids' sake since the
separation. “Ashley, give mommy the camera.”“Okay.” Ashley slowly
gives Deb the camera then takes a step back.
But there was something invisible and dark in between them making it
impossible for those hands to touch.
I hand it back to Ashley. Her mouth opens into a smile, “Beautiful!
Look mommy!” She holds it out for Deb to see. Deb's smile shakes as she says, “Now go play in the water.” Ashley turns
around making her blonde hair fly and runs to her sister floating in the water.
I hear Deb mumble, “We drove 6 hours for this sand and water.” I sigh and
lie back on the pink beach towel, stretching my arms so my hands act as a
bony cushion for my head, “Don't even, Deb.”
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