Mother Crystal

We each “have issues’”

as mom would say

some party too much

some cheat on their girlfriends

and mysteriously awake

to slashed tires.

some are morose

boiling bird skulls

for gruesome gothic art.

One girl just had yet another abortion

with her boyfriend

married boss.

We shower her with condoms

not judgement.

One girl with daddy issues

feels everything too much,

chain-smokes constantly,

and flat-out loathes

every inch of her body

that would be me.

Then there is Crystal,

my stunning auburn friend.

The dominant matriarch,

gifted at drawing,

whose greatest talent

is connecting people

creating togetherness.

She assumes I’m classy

when she hears running water

to cover the sound

when I puke pee.

She can’t know,

would make me

stop immediately         make you fat.

She’s impressed

how much I read

always with an open

mystery novel

or magazine.

Crystal decides

I should take modeling

more seriously.

I’ve got potential

and she is great at

curating people.