Fiction by Marc Erdrich
Soul Mates - page 6
SON: Hello.
MOTHER: Harry?
SON: Mom. Hi. How are you doing?
MOTHER: Harry, your father’s gone.
SON: What are you talking about?
MOTHER: Your father’s gone. His ashes are gone from the closet. I don’t know who would do such a sick
thing, but someone has taken him.
SON: Unnh...Mom...I...unnh...they...unnh..his ashes aren’t gone. I have them.
MOTHER: (After a moment of silence.) You...have...them?
SON: Yes, I have them. They’re...he’s...I...it’s in the car.
MOTHER: In the car? What are they doing in the car?
SON: They’ve been there since Dad died.
MOTHER: Since he died? That was two years ago. Your father has been in the car for two years?
SON: Well, not exactly. I mean it’s not really Dad who’s in the car. After all...it’s only his ashes.
MOTHER: What do you mean only his ashes? What are they doing there?
SON: I...he...you...I just didn’t think they belonged in the closet.
MOTHER: I want them in the house, do you hear me. I want them in the house, now!