(Vanessa)

Teacher In-Service Day

means no school

but Brendan’s not home.

             “Would you like to come in though?”

             his mom asks me.

She gestures on a cloud

of light perfume that

Grand-maman would appreciate.

I think of the way

Mrs. Chase traded in

one husband for another

and I realize

that Grand-maman’s little lessons

are all about how to get a guy

but not about how to have a relationship

with anyone.

Even yourself.