The Pub

Catch

Carla Albert

When you think about it, you have the best
Part of me,
The quickest and strongest of my sperm made you.

The blond, pig-tail-wearing doll in a yellow jumper
Clung to the space beneath my armpit
And I liked my Easy Bake Oven and
The burnt round cakes I created.

As I rode my sea green Little Mermaid bicycle,
The bottoms of my white shoes flashed red
Every time my feet pushed down
On the pedals.

Yellow, star-shaped sunglasses
Nested on my face and a black
Bulls cap with red letters sat
Loosely on the crown of my braids.
An oversized, sleeveless jersey
Nearly hid my shorts, revealing
Thick prepubescent legs.

A few hours before dusk on a summer day
Dad and I went to Granny’s. He asked my
Younger cousin Nico if he wanted to play
Catch in the baseball field down the street.
They walked toward the front door and
I cried.
I didn’t know you wanted to come.

Sobbing quietly,
I followed them out the door.

Carla Albert is a senior English writing major from Chicago, IL. She gets weird cravings - mostly for hot giardiniera peppers. Once she starts, she can't stop. It's really bad....