Olive, Again

Olive, eighty-two years old now, goes to the marina for breakfast. She sees a woman who she taught math to, now a famous poet, named Andrea L’Rieux. Olive approaches her, and Andrea asks her to join her for breakfast. Olive is using a cane because she was in a car accident. Olive tells Andrea that she follows her on Facebook. She remembers that Andrea was a sad girl, and never would have guessed she was going to become famous. Olive has read Andrea’s poetry, but doesn’t care for most of it. Andrea is in Crosby because her father has gotten sick. Olive tells Andrea about her own father shooting himself, and Andrea notes that it is unusual for women to use a gun to commit suicide. Olive tells her that when you get old, you become invisible, but there is freedom in that. They part in the parking lot.

Olive tells Christopher, her son, that she had breakfast with Andrea, but he is not impressed. She calls a friend, Edith, and tells her, too. She expects to receive a note in the mail from Andrea, but never does. One day, she sees in the paper that Andrea’s father has died. When Olive goes to get her hair cut, the stylist already knows that Olive had breakfast with Andrea.