Eleanor on Facebook

by Michael Morrey

At ninety years old, Eleanor’s hands trembled slightly as she clicked the "Sign Up" button on Facebook, her grandson patiently guiding her through the process. She chose a profile picture from 1954, a black-and-white snapshot of her grinning beside a Cadillac she once thought could take her anywhere. Her first post — "Hello, I’m new here, I like card games, music from the 40s, and good conversation" — sat quietly, waiting for a ripple in the endless sea of scrolling. Hours passed, and just as she considered closing the laptop for good, a woman named Mabel, ninety-two and living three states away, commented: "I like card games too. Wanna play online sometime?" Eleanor felt the old Cadillac start up again, not on a road, but in her heart.

6S

Michael Morrey works for Hulu as a marketing manager.