Your Bag Charms Get Cold Too
By Allison Elizabeth
Ruby red plastic purse decked precariously poorly, or perhaps, perfectly. An average passerby would assume a poor victim to a marketing scheme, but we all know what that makes of you and me.
Small doll brings philosophical call while mortal capital eternally falls? Fastball.
The two girls hanging from either side of my bag are my divas, best friends, mentors, godchildren, cats that I found under a tree in my backyard who Trojan horsed me for a warm place to experience God’s art of creation. They are the artwork and the artist, coming to me as they are for me to present them out into the world.
GIRL 1
Do you hate me?
ME
I’m obsessed with you.
GIRL 2
We’re forced to be together.
ME
You are me.
I have to deliver my cookie boxes as Mother Nature blows snow in tornados of glitter. I love and respect her so I put my badges over my coat and wrap my head with cotton candy. I tear two small pieces off to place on my best friends, mothers, babies, angels, girls. Now we are three of a kind. OKAY YOU WILL HOLD THIN MINTS, YOU WILL HOLD TAGALONGS AND I WILL HOLD THE LEMONADES. They continue to drop them no matter how carefully I place them in their arms. I will have to carry the load. As we take our first steps in the snow I shout to mother HELLO! I HAVE TWO NEW FRIENDS AND I WANT YOU TO MEET THEM! She whispers in her wind, I only see you… are you pretending to have friends again? NO!!! THEY ARE ON MY PURSE ON MY ARM AND WE HAVE MATCHING HATS!!! WHAT IS PRETEND ABOUT THAT? She shoves a snowflake in my eye. I must squint to regain my vision. I envy my besties, ride or dies, sisters, girls. They do not have to blink in the snow. They can take it all in. They do not have to carry the boxes. Freedom from everything. When we arrive at the first house I kick the door to announce my presence. A gentle old man with hair exclusively under his nose adorned in a soccer jersey opens up. HELLO. I AM A GIRL WHO IS LUCKY ENOUGH TO ALSO BE A SCOUT. I HAVE COME WITH MY GIRLS TO SEE HOW MANY BOXES I COULD GET YOU TO BUY. THE GRAND PRIZE IS A CRUISE AROUND DISNEYWORLD AND I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED HOW MICKEY WALKS AROUND THE PARK. THAT’S A LOT OF DISTANCE FOR A MOUSE TO TRAVEL. The snow attempts to distract me, but I continue to stand in my set of three. My lovers, bffs, soulmates, GIRLS are just where I had placed them. They may be covered in snow, but they do not let the weather control them. Girl who is lucky enough to also be a scout… watch out. The winds of my mother throw the boxes from my hands, knocking the glasses off this poor soccer man. Nine boxes on the ground. One bruise on the bridge of soccer man’s nose. I AM SO SORRY. MY MOTHER IS ACTING UP. I reach my hands forward to help the man up, instead becoming item number 10 to hit the ground.
GIRL 1
It’s soooooo cold down here!!!
GIRL 2
Why did we need to come along? The paint on my face is going to be totally messed up.
GIRL 1
We can’t leave her alone.
GIRL 2
She is alone.
GIRL 1
Can you not see her? We are all together just on the ground now.
GIRL 2
I am not here with her.
GIRL 1
Does that mean I’m not either?
GIRL 2
Let’s let her figure it out.
I HOPE WHEN I DIE I COME BACK AS ONE OF MY KINDERED-SPIRITS, STUDENT-TEACHERS, BUTCH-FEMMES, PRINCESSES, QUEENS, GIRLS. I WANT RHINESTONES HOT GLUED TO MY OUTSIDE AND PERMANENTLY BRAIDED HAIR MELTS INTO THE SIDE WALK ALONG WITH MY FACE LEAVING MY MARK WITH A HOLLYWOOD STAR FOR SOME LITTLE CREATURE WALKS PAST ME AND REMEMBERS SHE CAN BE AN ANGEL, PRINCESS, MOTHER, DOCTOR, BEST FRIEND, SCOUT, GIRL!
Graphic by Naliyah Grant
