This expression was entirely genuine.
On the tray table in front of Rose was a small paper cup.
The kind that comes from the little packets of drinks.
Empty now.
I said: Grandma.
She said: I had juice, Callie. You know I like juice when my sugar gets low.
She said it serenely.
She said it with the complete peace of someone who has made a sound factual statement.
The flight attendant looked at the empty cup.
She looked at the woman.
She looked at Rose.
She said, very carefully: ma’am, did the juice spill on you?
The woman said: she threw it at me.
Rose said: I had juice and then I didn’t have it anymore. You know how turbulence can be.
She said turbulence with the pronunciation of someone who has not said the word very many times but who has prepared it.
The flight attendant looked at me.
