Spilled Salt by Barbara Neely

Spilled Salt is a short story by Barbara Neely. She writes about a son who committed a crime and is coming home to his mother. The type of crime is detrimental to the mother because she raised him and feels guilty for his actions. Now that Kenny is home Myrna has to face him. Myrna tries to avoid him each time they have an encounter. Based on Myrna actions and Neely’s use of a fly, past actions, and abandonment proves that she has abandonment issues and doesn’t handle her problems face to face.

In the beginning of the story Kenny is home but “Ma”(56) does not seem to be to happy about it. “You’re here”(56) Myrna said as “she stepped back from the door”(56). Readers might comprehend that a mother is not going to greet her only son like that, it is evident that she is going through the early stages of abandonment where you try your best to be as far as possible from your problem. After Kenny enters Myrna attempts to speak to him but it’s too awkward, So awkward that “ A fly buzzed against the window screen in a desperate attempt to get out”(56). Readers can understand that the fly was symbolically Myrna because she desperately wanted to get out. Though Kenny did commit a crime that would make a mother feel uncomfortable being next to him and Myrna actions show that.

Towards the middle of the story Myrna evades conversing with her returning son when he asks how she has been. Before Kenny could finish his sentence, Myrna cuts him off with “I’ll fix you something to eat”(56) and scurries to the kitchen “as though a meal were already in the process of burning”(57). Readers understand that Myrna wasn’t so worried on making sure her son was well fed. She left abruptly because she feels awkward and uncomfortable around Kenny. As you can see though Myrna never attempts to at least sit down with her own son and talk with him, so they could build a stronger relationship. Myrna feels bad for her past actions and wants to make