MOTHER'S LITTLE MAN

She used to sit on the bed
with one foot up
painting her toenails
while little puffs of cotton wool
flowered like miniature cauliflowers
between her toes

When she curled her hair
using those ugly pink plastic rollers
that were so common in those days
the astringent smell of perm fluid
permeated not only her hair
but the air around her
as well

I remember the smell
of the used laddered stockings
that she left tangled among her shoes
because I’d try them on
when she wasn’t there
and wear her pink stilettos
and strut my stuff

When she was out on the town
with another ‘hot prospect’
and I was left alone
to rifle through the tampons
and scratched smooth nail files
and dried up cutex bottles
that cluttered her drawer

…looking for loose change

(Drawing: Pink Stilettos by Carlton)
© Carlton Carr 2013
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