560.
THALIA SELZ
"Grown-ups; even mothers and fathers, do not always agree
about everything."
"When I grow up," said Jason, "I'll always agree with
Daphne."
Mother quickly seized his pawn. "When you grow up,
I
hope, children, that you will no longer kick and scratch like
animals-"
"Oh no-o!" We shook our heads. We should live to see
the day!
"But you won't
always
agree either. Your father and I
don't always agree... ."
Jason and I sidled glances. Damn right they didn't!
"But we
resolve
our differences for the sake of the family."
Jason was looking puzzled, but Mother bellied on triumphantly
down the wind. "Because our family is more important than
anyone of us, isn't it? Try to remember this, children...."
We nodded solemnly.
"And Daphne, never forget that a woman's first duty–
her
privilege-is
to keep her family together."
I sighed. How horrid and prissy it all was!
But of course, in spite of our united family, I found my–
self making -choices. Probably it
wasn't
good to blurt sex-sex-sex
all over the place, all the time. I didn't realize that Mother did
it, too, that it was the almost ineradicable hallmark of the 'twen–
ties when she and my father had come to maturity and found
their gods (Nature, Freedom, Passion).
"You have the most beautiful young
body!"
she would
exclaim, gazing _rapturously after the bath at my pipe-stem
shanks, my almost concave belly, and poor funny little breasts.
I could have cried, but because I loved her I forgave her and
glozed over these unseemly comments.
I did not forgive my father.
It
is Sunday and I have on a new pink rayon blouse. My
first that clings. I am standing beside the Victrola, winding it
up to play the "Anvil Chorus," my favorite piece of music at
