mary alice

I tried teaching her how to play
solitaire on the computer once.
that was the most frustrating moment
of my life. she has small hands
that are delightfully clammy--
you are forced to hold one of them
when correcting her typos.
i'm told she combs her hair out
after every perm
and that's why it looks like that.
her bottom lip sticks out.
i often forget how short she is--
how tiny her feet are--
but am reminded at random
moments when studying her
or when the half-door towers
over her head, as she waits
for her iced-tea at break time,
or how the average person
who walks through that door
wouldn't understand a single word
she says.
\"You go in water boy!\"
she yells at whoever, or
\"honeymoon!\"
mary alice,
eyes closed,
slumped in her chair
with her bottom lip out.