Ready? Set? Sit!

Three verbs describe Mary in this scene.

Sit.

Listen.

Choose.

Some of us might be fooled by the apparent passivity of the melancholy sister whose actions are in sharp contrast to those of her hardworking multitasking sister.

We can learn as much about Mary from what she is not doing as from what she is doing.

She is not chopping onions, keeping an eye on the boiling pot of potatoes, telling baker that his rolls are overdone and listening in to the bits and pieces of conversation going on in the living room all at the same time.

As far as Mary is concerned, the turkey and the dressing, the rolls and the pies could go their own merry way, and she would hardly notice. 

It’s not like her attention is undivided.  It’s fixed.  It’s riveted.  

It’s superguled!

And in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the many preparations, Mary sits down.

This might be by far the hardest choice of all.  Just to sit down.  When there is so much to do.  When pressures all around abound.   The choice to sit is almost an insult.  A rebellion of sort.  But, Mary has the courage, the audacity to choose… to sit down.

Did she understand how outrageous her choice was? Could she anticipate her sister’s verbal assault? 

We don’t know.

And I guess it really doesn’t matter whether she simply doesn’t care or is genuinely oblivious to what this scene looks like to an outsider, including her own sister…