" Guys and Dolls – Miami 1971 "
Tony was making out with his latest girl
in the front seat of his chevy
in the middle of a perfectly good afternoon.
Sin ninguna verquenza
in the parking lot of our apartment building
in little Havana,
except no one called it that yet.
Mami was ironing the dress she sewed
for my 11th birthday party.
Las Americanitas were skipping rope to 45s
while the scent of violetas pastilles
was still in my mouth
from the walk from la bodequita.
The 13 year old boy from the second floor
came out to his balcony just to see us play,
his hair still wet and slicked back
from his shower,
his hip huggers
just so.
My hair was down to my nalgas
and my breast were starting to swell.
My heart skipped a beat and lost the game
when I saw he was looking at me.
Abuela was making carne fria and ensalada de pollo
for the party when she saw what was going on.
From her window,
she called me and my sister in,
told us nice girls did not look at boys that way
and for me to go back to playing with my dolls.
Ay abuelita if you only knew that was the beginning
of my loneliness. How I am still waiting for someone
to want to brush my hair and play with me.
© 2003 Didi Menendez
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