Where
did I put that? Head dipped in the freezer eyes clear green on frozen
food Oh, there it is Blueberries dropped in oatmeal she scoops a
spoonful arranges frozen peas Papa’s peas over smoked ham on
Sunday’s The lady before
Darlene counts six pennies one drops Ernie picks it up Darlene smiles
at the boy mouth of lost teeth he could use bubble gum hands him a
quarter and gumball slides from machine to plump hand Fishing
the only thing trout understand Uncle always grills pink and Shelley
picks the bones Since a root canal and tonsillitis Lucy’s
mouth’s sensitive to meat Shelley inspects every bite knifes the
pieces gives Uncle the look I wish you wouldn’t fish the bonier
fish I knew you would leave me
the night on the sofa couch cushions too soft You’re love of
pillows it’s the frills and the satin propped side of the couch a
book against soft couch got me reading you asleep I stayed soft
cushions until woke you fluffed the pillow waited for me to move Cows sit
on grass mid morning the rain rains early afternoon Tuck forgets his
umbrella in the car and Marcy never carries umbrellas reminds her of
knives protection for the future she refuses Window shops she passes Tuck
doesn’t see the man who stares Marcy she points to distraction
that blue blouse take Tuck’s attention off the rain about to pour
the man keeps staring no protection Mae Lucy Anne
a long name in her pockets round stones she’s in love with Amelie
walks around a woman undercover until ha-ha she trips on the curb this
isn’t French she reads Simone Weil on her way to piano lessons
pocket-stones clicking tells people her name is Amelie cause Mae Lucy
Anne doesn’t sound French Under gutter
my chapstick drops and Dad’s pocketknife picks I’ll just
get you another one he grumbles over homeless man’s blown trumpet
Dad rescues the stick opens lid Eww I don’t want that Dad
doesn’t like brass but admires trumpet in homeless hand my
chapstick in his hand Last course cake
Ashlea’s wedding into Ben and it’s vanilla and chocolate
and sprinkled and fluffy but some people don’t eat cake Roger
wears red sunglasses to pick red Swedish fish one two three four five
five pennies for five fish his red sunglasses slide down nose but hide
eyes the cashier can’t count anything but the change Roger wears
red sunglasses hikes the uphill to Subway orders chocolate chip cookie
than oatmeal cookie than changes his mind doesn’t pay for cookie
but offers Swedish fish red sunglasses high on the nose the cashier
eats the fish lets the cookies with Roger Use Round Trip
for curly hair lock the curls to scalp Kelly dips hair over head The
George Washington she calls it I thought we were over this conversation
to her sister while pumps Round Trip into curls her sister wishes for
the red the curls We’re not where’s my Polly Pocket?
Kelly’s finished Round Trip I didn’t take it Sister steals
Kelly’s pump rubs into straight hair doesn’t curl Stevie’s baby
sucks milk from the breast still at two Joanie complains but Stevie
good mother says bottles have nipples too no difference Joanie read
Freud but Stevie reads poker faces vows never her son has one My baby
likes real milk Joanie shrugs Suit yourself Stevie reveals her breast
people stare her two year-old sucking nipple Brian
little boy plays double-dutch like the best of the black girls he
whoops um good offers skittles from color- melted palms Black hands
down the colors laugh at his speech his bones his mother’s dinner
call Brian giggles home hungry and full Dawn to Michael
needs too much he can’t answer Roll from bed never sleeps alarm
clock morning is morning Dawn hears shower hopes water douses doubt
she’ll cook him toast omelet he like no cheese and not to ask and
she talks TV, Christmas cards Oh, by the way, where did you put the
remote, baby?