WHO IS MOTHER.

[dadio]

She stood in the doorway
Of the bedroom after Dixie’d
Been out late at a party at

Thirteen. You know what
Time it is? Stella asked.
What’s it to you, Dixie

Replied, you aren’t my
Mother, you’re just my
Interfering big sister who’s

A pain in the butt. Stella
Stood staring, biting her
Lower lip. I care, Stella said.

Dixie began to undress for
Bed, wishing her sister would
Leave her be. I don’t need

Your care; I am ok on my own.
Go get your own kid to boss
Around. Stella sighed and came

Into the bedroom and closed
The door. I have, she said quietly.
Dixie looked up from undressing.

You? What have you done with the
Kid, hidden it away in your closet?
She sniggered and proceeded to

Put on her nightdress. No, Stella
Said, she’s here in the room. Dixie
Stopped and stared and looked

Around the room. You buried it in
The walls or under the floorboards?
Stella fidgeted and walked to the

Window and looked through the
Curtains at the night sky with moon
And a scattering of stars. Dixie stared

At Stella’s back, the way the waist
Was so narrow, the hips seemingly
Moulded by some sculptor’s hands.

Where is this darn kid of yours then?
Eh? In your head most like, Dixie said.
There was a moment of silence. Stillness

In the room. An owl hooted. A car backfired.
Someone laughed from the street. You
Are my child, Stella said. Dixie began to

Laugh, but the look on Stella’s face stopped
Her. A knife entered beneath the ribs it
Seemed. Downstairs the TV was playing soft.

Her father laughed at some TV show.
The room seemed to black out into
Emptiness. Now standing in the same

Room years later, Dixie, looks out of the
Window at the garden below. Her mother
Is hanging out washing, her grandmother

Sits staring at the morning sun from some
Small chair by the wall. Her mother has
Clothes pegs in her mouth like some tall

Blonde-haired bear with small fish hanging
There. Stella looks up and removes the pegs
And waves; Dixie waves back at the tall

Blonde-haired bear standing there with
The sunlight’s blessing around her tight
Blonde curls and the eyes lit up by the

Morning sun like two bright bright pearls.