Spotlight: Harriet Hates Lemonade by Kim McCollum
/
Meet Harriet. But don’t be surprised if she isn’t interested in meeting you.
Harriet has life all figured out, and she doesn’t hesitate to inform others of their shortcomings. Though her attempts to become president of the homeowner’s association failed, that doesn’t stop her from berating “off-leash-dog-man” or reporting the neighbor who had the audacity to leave their easter decorations up an entire week past the holiday. The problem is, unbeknownst to her, Harriet’s rigid rules and judgmental opinions are not her own.
Her ordered life plunges into chaos when a twelve-year-old neighbor knocks on Harriet's door seeking help because the girl’s father is physically abusing her mother. Reluctantly, Harriet comes to her neighbor’s aid and, in the process, recognizes her own insidious abuse which has unwittingly shaped her isolated, rigid existence. To escape her crushing loneliness, she must learn to break free from the patterns of control and isolation that have defined her life and learn to connect with people she previously viewed as heathens.
Excerpt
One such day, years ago, she’d donned her favorite sundress, the light blue one with the small daisies, and set out hoping to make a good first impression. Her mother told her about never having a second chance.
Harriet started with her closest neighbor, right next door. Watching discreetly from the dining room window, she’d learned they had two little girls, around two and four. On the pie delivery day, Harriet waited until they’d been home a half an hour to let them settle in a bit and then made her way to their front porch and rang the bell.
From behind the door Harriet heard, “Elizabeth, how dare you! Get over here!” The smile she’d readied for the encounter slid from her face. Figuring this wasn’t a good time, Harriet turned to leave. The door swung open. From her dining room window, this woman had appeared around thirty, and attractive, despite her rather frumpy clothing, but up close, she appeared to be closer to fifty. The creases on her forehead were so deep they didn’t disappear even when she relaxed her scowl.
“Can I help you?” the neighbor asked.
“Well, you see,” Harriet said, “I’ve baked you a pie. I hope you like apple.”
“Thanks,” the woman said, taking the pie.
They stood staring awkwardly for a moment. Harriet assumed she’d be invited in, that they would have a cup of coffee or tea. Harriet thought this happened when you spent a day baking pies for your neighbors in a perfect neighborhood like theirs was.
“I live next door. Just there,” Harriet said, pointing.
“Okay,” the woman said, running her hand through her messy hair. Then nothing. A child yelled, “Mo-om, Katie pulled my hair again!”
The woman sighed. “Well, I’ve got to go. Thanks again!”
The door shut. Harriet stood staring at it. She hadn’t even learned the woman’s name.
Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Bookshop.org
About the Author
Kim McCollum graduated from Barnard College with a major in Japanese and was soon navigating the hustle and bustle of Wall Street. When her first child was born, she stayed home to raise her children. Once they headed off to school, Kim finally found time to pursue her passion for writing. Her award-winning debut novel, WHAT HAPPENS IN MONTANA, was published in January 2024, and her short stories have appeared in several publications. She lived in Bozeman, Montana, with her supportive husband, Brian, and their blended menagerie of five kids and three spoiled pets.
You can find her online at:
Her website: https://kim-mccollum.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/KFMcCollum
