Routine
by Tracy Clark
1.
he leaps from floor to seat and seat to floor and his mother says
"Sit don't or you won't get your toy."
2.
Her change is sweaty and sticky
Her dollar bills rolled together and folded in the middle.
3.
"I'm back"
and Milli Vanilli plays on his mp3 player
4.
Her glasses tuck into the curls of her hair
5.
the fries are crisply hollow
they're not golden brown, more like tree bark brown
6.
"Ah-Ah-Ah-blooh!"
she runs her hand over her nose, itching and blinking
7.
pine needles gather beneath two trees that have been cut in the middle
the power lines can run freely
8.
her eyes are listless and saggy
tears form at mid moon
9.
the television drones on in the living room
he's watching Jimmy Kimmel
he leaps from floor to seat and seat to floor and his mother says
"Sit don't or you won't get your toy."
2.
Her change is sweaty and sticky
Her dollar bills rolled together and folded in the middle.
3.
"I'm back"
and Milli Vanilli plays on his mp3 player
4.
Her glasses tuck into the curls of her hair
5.
the fries are crisply hollow
they're not golden brown, more like tree bark brown
6.
"Ah-Ah-Ah-blooh!"
she runs her hand over her nose, itching and blinking
7.
pine needles gather beneath two trees that have been cut in the middle
the power lines can run freely
8.
her eyes are listless and saggy
tears form at mid moon
9.
the television drones on in the living room
he's watching Jimmy Kimmel