Summary

The narrator visited Tate Modern. She ordered a prosecco at the museum bar though “it was 10:30” (69). She thinks it’s “noble to go to museums and museum cafés alone” because everyone who goes in groups behaves poorly (70). She sat at the bar. Because she was short, she had trouble ascending the stool. Her mother was short, too, and raised her “to be proud of” her height (70).

The narrator realized how much her mother would have appreciated this experience. Her mother “was a great appreciator” (71). It was her way of showing gratitude. In her mother’s old age, the narrator paid for all of their expensive outings. She often wanted her mother to thank her. She never did. Her parents had rarely commented on the things she did. It was a gift, but often left her longing for recognition.

While in London with...