Onion Tears

I stood there watching her, she was heaving and I knew she was crying. "Mummy!" I called to her. "What is the matter? Why are you crying?" She was quiet for a few seconds, frantically wiping her face. Then she turned to face me. "My dear, it is this onion. I am nit crying. It is onion tears," she said. Wiping her nose with the back of her free hand while she held the knife in the other hand, trying to force a smile. I nodded quietly, and made to walk away. I knew what I had seen.