TE20 Migrant Mosaics

Ben Sloan

the grey stone graves that were his teeth. And he would shake her father’s hands and put on his coat slowly as if not to break any of the old bones in his body. Just before he walked out of their apartment door, he would turn around and nod his head to her, to Birke, but not to her father. And then he would be gone and go to whatever home he had, wherever it was, Between Feldkirchen and Villach, in a village that you wouldn’t even consider a village. But what hewould not do, and shewas sure of this, was talk about her mother.

Would he tell me stories about mom? Birke asked her father after she found out that Onkel Georg was her mother’s brother.

Her father responded in a tone she wished she never knew. The tone reminded her of how dogs growl without moving their jaws, and instead show their teeth, as if this disgusting noise came from their long canine fangs instead of some guttural contraption deep in their throat.

Do not ask Onkel Georg about your mother unless he brings it up himself!

He would never bring it up himself. She would never again ask her father about Onkel Georg and her mother. She did not want to see his fangs again or that growl that came from them. So instead, Birke watched Onkel Georg ; and, listened: She listened for a location, for any sort of clue or hint, mountain, prairie, stream, landmark, cow, weather report that she could catch from him.

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