Two crackers shy of a box

She’s here. Now.

No need to check on me.

Go home, Miss Helen,

moonshine maker.

 

Miss Helen

two crackers shy of a box

hair colored orange (she thinks is red)

pokes out on the ends like soggy cactus needles

unless she’s driving Roadster

pulls red tam pulled tight over head

big bosoms poke steering wheel

with hands clutched tight

elbows poking out on both sides

Peers through windshield

wearing aviator goggles.

 

She’s here. Now.

No need to check on me.

Go home, Miss Helen,

moonshine maker.

 

Beats her gums about town folk –

“Saw Betty at the Five and Dime…”

“Oh, Lordy, the dentist, he’s …”

I stop listening

Think of something else.

Oh, Lordy.

She slaps and fluffs a couch pillow.

Dust bunnies flit around her orange hair.

 

Don’t lay down! Don’t lay down.

Go home, Miss Helen.

moonshine maker

My house, too small

for two crackers.

images

 

 

photo credit

daily word prompt: fluff

Character Descriptions

For me, writing Specific descriptions of characters, can be a challenge. I kinda like this one, though. The visual makes me giggle.

(Voice of eleven-year-old Emma June)

If anyone is two crackers shy of a box, it’s Miss Helen. She takes trips to the big city so she can get her hair colored orange that she thinks is red. It’s cut stylishly short but pokes out on the ends like soggy cactus needles. Each time she drives Moonbeam, the name she gave her brand new 1928 Ford Roadster, she wears the same red tam pulled down tight over her head, and the same flowered-y silk scarf draped around her neck. Her big bosoms poke the steering wheel that she clutches so tight, her elbows stick way out on both sides. Then she peers through the windshield wearing aviator goggles like she’s about to take Amelia Earhart for a plane ride.