Fuzzy Slippers

I button the top button of my robe

It’s a quilted satin floral print

And reminds me of melted sherbet

I feel grown up in it like the ladies on tv

I listen at the stairwell for the baby sitter

There is only the drone of the television

I imagine her curled up on the couch

She's nice, I hope she doesn't get in trouble

The French door near my bedroom opens onto the balcony

Quietly I pad my way down the back stairs

The light from the living room’s picture windows fill the lawn

I am careful to travel wide, staying in the the dark

The world tonight is black and white

Everywhere long shadows

But I’m not scared

My heart is pounding with excitement

I climb the pasture fence in my pink fluffy slippers

and wade through hip high grass till I reach the road

I love my slippers and don’t yet hate the site of pink

I still believe the fairytales

The road is lit by the full moon

And the lights of the college shine ahead

A quarter mile walk will get me past those

She's gonna be mad, I know

She hasn't hit me for two days

For her that's getting along

But they’re gone

And she woulda beat me tomorrow anyway

I duck into the shallow next to the road

When cars pass by

I haven’t really thought where I'm going

Just away

To the next town, I guess

Another car

I curl up in a ball beside the road

Imitating a rock

A pink and orange quilted satin rock

This one slows crunching the gravel behind me

He talks, she talks, I say nothing

He tries to stand me up, but I am a rock

Eventually I'm put in their car

In her lap still in a ball, we drive

Once in their house

They fuss over me like a celebrity

They are kind and gentle

Years later I realize I was lucky

More questions, no answers

Back in the car

This time I sit like a person

Till we get to the Sheriff's office

She won't talk we've tried everything

Would you like some hot chocolate sweetie?

We can even get marshmallows

Name? phone number? First grade?

I sing like a bird

Tell us about your mother

Does she get angry with you?

I know better than to answer

Silently I drink my chocolate

Daddy leads me through the living room

Mommy and the Christiansens are playing cards

They are all dress up in going out clothes

They stop and watch me with a strange excitement

Daddy is sad and looks confused

I didn't mean to hurt him

Sorry

Next time I will plan better