walker

ali pensky

WALKER LOOKS THROUGH MOMMA’S WHOLE DRESS RACK twice and pulls out an orange sundress. Momma has them color coded in ROYGBIV order. Walker hangs the orange one on the doorknob and takes off his jeans and t-shirt. He runs his hand through his hair cause it’s sticking up funny. He just got it cut short and afterwards he cried. He steps into the dress and it goes easy past his waist. He slides the spaghetti straps onto his pale and bony shoulders. He turns in a circle in front of Momma’s mirror. He leans on his right leg and rests one hand on his hip. He slides his hand up his waist, feeling the outline of his own body. He cocks his head sideways, rolls his neck back, and grazes it with the backside of his fingertips.

Walker hears the front door open and Dad’s voice. He jumps out of the dress and back into his jeans. He walks into the white kitchen and helps Momma unload the groceries. Then they start to measure out ingredients for the cheesecake. It’s better once cooled overnight. The recipe was Nana’s and it’s been framed in her handwriting since she died.