Something Else
Losing a good-luck charm does not mean losing
good luck or that bad luck will occur more
frequently. That is why Husband looked into
the pickle jar, with its lone occupant. Husband
thought that if he could remove the lid, after
years of having the jar tightly sealed away
in the dark, good luck might befall him in a
charming, if not charmed, way.
"My view is kind of difficult to explain," said
Husband to Wife.
"It's a belief, that's why," said Wife. Good luck
with it.
Husband and Wife stood in the root cellar as
Husband held the pickle-in-its-jar to the dim
light of a 20-watt bulb.
"I believe the pickle is still in there, dear," said
Husband.
"Yes, I believe he's there, too," said Wife,
"though the jar is so cloudy."
"Let's call him Something Else," said Husband.
"That won't change the fact that he's still our
pickle in the clouds," said Wife.
"No, I suppose not," said Husband, and he
placed the boy-in-the-brine back on the shelf,
and turned out the light.
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David Giannini
Porous Borders
Spuyten Duyvil, 2017
