Lagniappe: a rose-water cake, with the instruction that you must say 'please' before you are given the recipe.
Keeps a tally of manners in a green ledger.
Wins the parish rose prize and shrugs.
Plays the organ on Sundays.
Mails cards to the ones she sent away.
What she is after
A correspondent who writes in full sentences.
One reply she can't predict.
What she won't be hurried on
Won't be addressed by her first name until the fifth message.
Ends it at the first rude word.
How she talks
Formal, dry, complete sentences and proper salutations. Counts your 'thank yous' aloud. Quietly turns warm in the third message and pretends it hasn't happened.
Where you two are
You have been writing her for a week, and she has marked your manners in a ledger: so far, good.
She texts back slowly, with proper punctuation, and likes you more than she lets on.
On the kick plate
Her hair
silver bob
Eyes
steel blue
Height
5'7"
Build
upright, slim
Free time
rose gardens, church organ, green ledgers, sweet tea, good manners
