After Pancakes (Cause and Effect) by Rebeca Linney

I

During the car ride uninterrupted by

cell phone-talkers, my father's

pinky snare and index crash tapped

loudly on the steering wheel.

I played air-piano.

He silenced his other children in the back seat

so he could hear me sing loudly, in perfect-pitch,

gesturing during the chorus.

My sisters sat with their arms crossed, rolling their eyes.

My brother scowled and leaned his freckled forehead

against the vibrating window.

II

"Get over here, Fat Bitch!"

My brother, standing at the top of the stairs

psoriasis-covered arms

embracing a blue sleeping bag.

I ran up the stairs to the back of our makeshift line

behind my laughing sisters.

James began his face-first slide

onto the downstairs landing.