Calves

Flash Fiction

Photo by Sand Crain on Unsplash

I was so afraid my father was gonna find out.

Like I wanted him or me to die before he did.

That’s terrible, yeah, but lying about it would make it worse.

When my father did find out, he slapped my sister for loaning me her sundress.

He slapped her hard, slapped my love for him right out of my sister’s face.

I left the house, but of course I was getting kicked out anyway.

The dress I have on now is too tight.

I’m embarrassed, though the seats in this theater are making me feel safe.

The nervousness is pushing the embarrassment away anyway.

Marie is a Finalist in Voice of the Midwest.

She’s got a beautiful voice, and I’m not just saying that because she’s my sister.

I mean, obviously she does because she’s one of five finalists.

They introduce the singers before they sing and do a short video presentation.

The country singer guy is really a calf roper. 

The animal looks like it’s in pain.

I stare at the country singer and wonder why he does it.

He would probably do the same to me, though I’m certain I’m not harming any other living creatures.

Marie is next.

The host’s tux is too tight.

I feel for him.

And then I’m on the screen and I gasp.

I mean I knew, but there I am. 

Larger than life.

Next to my sister, in a sundress she bought especially for me.

My father isn’t here.

He’s furious about that.

Marie wouldn’t budge.

My father’s never seen me in a dress of my own.

He wouldn’t like it.

He’d like it less that I was up on the screen, larger than life.

He’d make a scene.

I imagine the calf roper lassoing my father, and I laugh, loud and free.

***

I’m gonna lose subscribers. I always do when this is the topic. I don’t write about it often because I’m not a member of the community. But I have too many friends who are to not to write about it.