Marlene and Iris Leave the Fork Question Open

Marlene had put two small plates of potatoes on the kitchen table. The window was black; the light caught every scratch on the forks.

She turned hers over. “When did eating with prongs become ordinary?”

Iris glanced at the phone beside her plate. “I meant to read that. The link took me to the History Channel Italia homepage. Channel information, streaming. No forks.”

“So we know where the article isn't.”

“That part I can confirm.”

Marlene nudged the plate a little closer to Iris. Neither offered a century to fill the silence. For a moment the fork lay across Marlene's palm, familiar and unexplained.

Then she used it to pick up a potato. Iris went back to eating too. The question could stay open; the snack was getting cold.