“Your mom used to make costumes.”
Ms. Bennett checked the inventory.
The machine was still there.
“I asked her to teach me,” Lily said.
Jacob looked at his daughter.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I asked her to teach me.”
“Because you said I shouldn’t do the play.”
“I was worried about you.”
“I know, Dad.”
“Then you should’ve talked to me.”
Lily looked down.
“I tried.”
“I was worried about you.”
Nobody spoke.
Then she picked up a blue costume vest.
It had three mismatched buttons and one pocket noticeably higher than the other.
“I made this.”
Jacob took it carefully.
“You sewed it?”
“I made this.”
“Mostly. Ms. Bennett helped.”
He examined the crooked pocket.
“Your mom used to make things like this.”
“Really?”
“Your mom used to make things like this.”
Lily shook her head.
“I was too little.” She glanced at the machine. “I wanted to learn something she knew how to do.”
