Sub Rosa

The tinkling chimes at the front door announced Jack's entrance. He stepped into the rich aroma of Grandma's cooking. By now, however, Jack knew the delicious scents were deceptive. Grandma wasn't much of a cook.

"Jack!" Little Joe dived into him.

"Hey little dude. You been keeping Grandpa and Grandma busy?"

"And how," Grandma Jean asnwered. "Comeer you--too big to stay with your ol' grandparents." She hugged Jack. "So what kinda trouble you get yourself into this past week?"

"Oh nothing much. Just sorta hung out."

"Yeah right," Grandma Jean countered with a knowing laugh. "Well, don't just stand there, dinner's waitin'." She headed toward the kitchen.

"Jack," Little Joe tugged at his shirt. "I need ta show ya somethin'."

"Maybe later, Joe. It's dinner time."

"But I reeeeally want ta show ya now!"

"Hurry up, Big Joe," the boys heard Grandma call down to the basement. "My pot roast'll get cold."

"Okay," Jack appeased. "What's the big deal?"

Little Joe led him into the living room, pulled out the old, red photo album, and sat on the sofa. Little Joe motioned him over. He opened to one of the pages with the mystery girl. His pundgy little finger pointing to the suspect, he asked, "Who's that?"

Jack briefly examined the photo and shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know."

Joe looked down, defeated.

Jack suddently realized he was looking at pictures of his dad and Uncle Tom. "Hey, but do you know who these guys are?"

With attitude only a 7-year-old could exude, "I know."

Jack continued to page through the album trying to find pictures of his Uncle Dean. He was upset by the news of Dean's car accident. Dean filled the position of cool uncle perfectly, and Jack idolized him. No luck finding Uncle Dean, but he did see more photos of the girl Joe had asked about. The girl with the green eyes. She was almost always with his dad and Uncle Tom except for a few solo portraits. As he continued to dwell on the girl's identity, Jack heard Big Joe climbing the stairs to dinner.

"Grandpa," he called as he approached with the photo album opened to a picture of her. "Who is this?"

Big Joe flashed an agry look at Little Joe. He redirected himself toward Jack. "Not you too. Why's it so damn important? Just leave me alone about it." He never once looked at her picture.

Undetered, "Come on, Grandpa, she IS in a ton of photos. You don't know who she is?"

"That's enough!" Thundered Big Joe. "Your parents may let you talk outta turn, but not in this house. Now, 'less you want to go without supper, you put that thing down and find yerself a seat at the table."

Unsure why Grandpa Joe was so upset by the picture, Jack complied. The four of them ate dinner in near silence, silverware againt plates making the only sounds. Jack and Joe even omitted the usual exchange of faces to indicate their dislike of Grandma's cooking. Perhaps emboldened by his newfound independence during his parents' weeklong Las Vegas vacation (It had been the first time his parents let him stay home alone), Jack spoke. "I don't get what the big deal is about the picture. I--"

"Out!" Big Joe stood up from his chair and pointed to the door. "You're such a big man to stay by yerself, you just go back home."

"Joe! What's the matter with you?"

"I won't have it, Jean!"

"Won't have what? That they're curious about Karen? Why shouldn't they be? I'm tired of ignoring it. It's only a matter of time before they find out anyway."

"Jean!"

"Oh, settle down old man." Times like these revealed who the real head of household was. Jean took a breath and faced Jack and Little Joe. "That girl you're askin about...that's your Aunt Karen, your dad's sister."

Jack and Little Joe stared at Grandma Jean as if the words she had just spoken would reform around her head to make sense. Big Joe shook his head, left the kitchen, and gallumped down the steps to his basement retreat. Grandma Jean returned to her food. Although they did not speak to each other at the table, Jack and Little Joe knew they would skip dessert (not a big sacrifice) and take out the red photo album to examine more closely.