A Farewell to Yarns

clean. It’s not anything compulsive, it’s just that you can see a difference when you’re through. Not like raising kids or something that you’re not sure how it’s going to turn out for a couple of decades.”
    Jane sat down and took another sip of the now-cold coffee. “And I hate cleaning, because no matter how often or well you do it, it has to be done again—and again and again. How are we on time?“
    “Plenty. Your friend’s flight isn’t due for an hour and a half, and it’s only an hour to the airport.“
    “Still, I’d like to get going. Do you mind?“
    “Not a bit. Are you driving, or shall I?”
    This question raised a good number of conflicting emotions in Jane. Though Shelley was normally the most calm, refined individual in the world, something about getting behind the steering wheel of a car brought out a savage, competitive streak in her. On the other hand, Jane didn’t think her muffler would stick with her all the way to O’Hare, and she had an awful suspicion that the kids had left McDonald’s wrappers and other trash in the backseat, where Phyllis would have to ride. Of course, Phyllis Wagner was so down-to-earth that she probably wouldn’t think of a thing about it. The deciding factor was really the afghan
    “Why don’t you drive so I can crochet?“ Jane said after a moment of consideration. “I’ve lied to Fiona. I told her I’ve finished it already and have just forgotten to bring it over. I’ve got to get the damned thing done.“
    “Can you crochet and ride?“
    “With you? I’d rather crochet than watch.“ Jane went into the living room and grabbed a big yellow plastic bag that contained the afghanin-progress.
    Shelley followed her. “Why don’t you have a tree up yet?“
    “I’ll get one in a day or two. You could at least notice and appreciate all those boxes in the corner. Those are the Christmas decorations, fresh from the basement and ready to go up whenever I have a spare day or two.”
    True to form, Shelley made a spectacularly belligerent entry onto the main road at the bottom of their street. Jane didn’t even look up from the snarl of red, green, and white yarn in her lap. She just leaned with the motion of the minivan and went on muttering, “Triple, triple, triple, single. Triple, triple, triple, single, single. Triple—“
    “Hold it, Jane. You just did two singles,“ Shelley said.
    “I was turning a corner.“
    “I suppose that makes sense. What I don’t understand is why you have to walk your way through crocheting.“
    “For the simple reason that I’m not very good at it. Saying the stitches out loud is the only way I can keep track of where I am and what I’m doing.”
    Shelley made what she called a “runningstop“ at a stop sign and said, “You must be a lot of fun around the fireside in the evenings.”
    Jane stopped working for a moment. “Firesides would be okay. It’s the television that gets me in trouble. The kids won’t let me in the same room when they’re watching. I annoy them to a frenzy.“
    “Of course you do. Just being their mother is enough for that.“
    “I can’t understand what went wrong with me. The women in my family were usually born knitting. You know those little hats babies wear home from the hospital...? My aunts made their own to wile away time in the bassinets. I swear it. Knitting and crocheting are in our genes. Even Katie can whip up a granny square. How could I pass the ability on to my daughter without any sticking to me? My mother can work an elaborate cable stitch in three colors without even looking at the needles and discuss the history of the Reformation at the same time. I must be missing some crucial part of my brain.“
    “The part that connects with your hands probably. Or maybe the part that wants to discuss the Reformation. We’re only a block from Fiona’s. I’ve got all that stuff I have to drop off for the church bazaar. We have time before we have to be at the airport?“
    “And have you speed all the way to make up lost time? I’d rather go to a dentist than let myself in for that. No, I’ll help you unload it at Fiona’s later. Fiona’s another one—she could build a whole town with leftover scarps of yarn if she set her mind to it. Of course, she’s English, so that helps explain it. Probably cut her teeth on the Bayeux Tapestry.“
    “Isn’t that in France?”
    Jane cocked an eyebrow. “If you’re going to get literal on me, I won’t be your