“I’m going to look at the potatoes,” said Mercury. “I can’t wait any longer.”
“Well, it only took a few minutes before—if that’s what happened,” said Stella.
“We’ll all look,” said Imani. Jenny and Karen, who had been putting plates of sandwiches and fries on trays for the people in the foyer, quit what they were doing and joined Mercury at the counter.
Mercury hadn’t realized she’d held her breath until it escaped from her in a gasp as she lifted the bowl and stared down into it.
“Fuck me,” said Stella.
Imani shook her head from side to side. “It’s completely insane.”
“I’m glad I was here when it happened. I’d never believe it if I hadn’t seen it myself, and I have a goddamn master’s in botany.” Jenny spoke breathlessly.
“It’s a miracle,” said Karen in a hushed church voice.
Mercury lifted the two potatoes. Through the spots of her dried blood, big green sprouts burst from the skin of both as if they reached up toward an imaginary sun.