“I tell him that’s one book he has to read to himself. Here. I stick it back at him. He’s just in second grade or third grade but he sit and puzzle out those words. That boy and words. Should have named himself Word Serious.”

Sissy leans back, sips on some red wine. Her eyes arc the room, judging our reaction to her story. We tilt toward her, waiting for her next words. “That’s my son. Aaron Marcus Peoples. Special Intent.” Sissy leans back and laughs. “Maybe that’s his special intent, to help with his words to explain the world.”

Sissy reaches in her sack and pulls out a McDonald’s bag.

“It’s a cookie party. Not a fast-food party,” Rosie jokes.

Sissy passes the white bag to Laurie, who passes it to Vera, and it begins its circle. “Aaron’s first made-up song was about a hamburger cookie. His two favorite things to eat. Forget now how it goes, but it was a little rap. And so I made these for him.” She then reaches and retrieves a small hamburger. “Partly my way to encourage him to speak in the common language.” She holds it up so we can see it. “See. It’s a hamburger made with store-bought cookies. Orange-colored frosting pastes the layers together and looks like cheese.”

“Oh, look. They even have sesame seeds on their little buns,” Taylor exclaims.

Sissy distributes the McDonald’s sacks. As soon as I get mine, after depositing one in the hospice bag, I open it up and pull out a miniature hamburger. “Amazing! It looks just like a hamburger.” I taste the sweet-chocolate-mint crunch. “Tastes great.”

“Wow.” Juliet laughs. “You get the prize for the best-ever cookie virgin.”

“These are terrific.”

“They mostly an assembling trick. Like the auto industry.” Sissy laughs.

“How inventive.”

“You’re amazing,” Charlene says. “Loved your story, too.”

“Let’s keep this cookie virgin.” Jeannie grins. I haven’t seen one of her spontaneous smiles in some time. Recently, she forces them at appropriate occasions but rarely otherwise.

“The hospice will love these hamburgers. Can’t you see the little joy the surprise of them will bring?” Allie says.

“Ohmigod, so amazing!” Rosie exclaims.

“We’re all creative. Each in her own way.” Singling out one girlfriend may make others feel inadequate or spread jealousy. I grew up with so many siblings that I always try to avoid any hint of favoritism or preference. “These are almost too charming to eat, but they’re delicious.”

“And so cute in their McDonald’s bag. How did you get them?”

“I worried about the containers. Went to McDonald’s with one of my grandbabies and saw the bags. So I just asked them for bags and told them what I was going to use them for. They gave me a bunch. They seemed happy to be part of this.”