The Memory of Flight, a novel by Debra Bowling

The Memory of Flight, a novel by Debra Bowling

Grandmother stood and dropped the scissors in her apron pocket. “The chickens don’t remember their wings were clipped.” Her voice lowered, “They just can’t fly anymore, and they don’t remember why or even that they once could.”

Ginny stood still with corn in both hands. If she ever flew, she was sure she would always remember it. How could they forget?

They drove up and inside the huge metal cage that wrapped around concrete with big, strong arms. She wondered if the arms made the bridge safer, or if it was only to make people think it was. The holes in the cage were still big enough to fall through. Or jump through. A shiver began but stopped as she looked at her husband, quietly sneaking sips of whiskey, the bottle still covered with a brown paper bag. He turned to her then, his eyes pleading for her, full of sadness and regret. His sadness always filled her, and she trusted it, took it in even with the drunken outbursts. This used to be all it took to get her back. She used to think she could make his sadness go away.