Kinship

By Alaina Hammond

      Jinni makes a point of showing her nieces and nephews equal attention. She plays no favorites. That way, a random outsider would never know she has a favorite. More importantly, the kids don’t know. And kids are annoyingly perceptive. For an age group known for their bluntness and lack of discretion, it’s actually shocking how well they pick up on what’s deliberately unspoken. 

      Thus, Jinni is vigilant with her presents, her smiles, and her hugs. But with her mother, and only with her mother, she recently dropped all pretense. She basically said, Mom, I love my brother’s kids, but right now I don’t care how any of them are. And Mom, I love all five of my sister’s kids, but right now I’m indifferent to four of them. Mommy. Please. Tell me about my sister’s middle son. Tell me about Jack, and only Jack. Jack. Jack. Jack.

       Jinni’s mother understands and obliges. She gives Jinni every detail of Jack, from the last time she visited her older daughter’s home. Short of literally recording him, she recalls almost every word he said. His manner, his inflections. Because that’s what Jinni wants to hear about, so that’s what her mother, Jack’s grandmother, relays. Of course, she tries to be subtle about it. “Your nephew did this.” “Your nephew said that.” “Your nephew wore orange but mismatching socks.” Your nephew. Your nephew. Your nephew Jack. 

       Next month, at his birthday party, Jinni will behave herself as she always does. She will not gather him in her arms and whisper, “Six years ago today, for a minute or so, you were mine.”

      She’ll bring him a puzzle instead. He likes puzzles. It runs in the family.

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Alaina Hammond is a poet, playwright, fiction writer, and visual artist. Her poems, plays, short stories, philosophical essays, creative nonfiction, paintings, drawings, and photographs have been published both online and in print. Publications include Spinozablue, Paddler Press, Fowl Feathered Review, Synchronized Chaos, Well Read Magazine, Concision Poetry Journal, New World Writing Quarterly, and Hot Poet’s Equinox.  @alainaheidelberger on Instagram.