William Francisco (middle child) in First Grade

I’ll have a blue Christmas without you
crooned into the Caprice Classic 
as Daddy steered us like one unit 
towards First Baptist for the play.

Heavy dampness pressed through my costume.
Bone-cold Virginia winters. Sun fell
two hours ago. Ice crystals disappeared 
like apparitions, as quickly as they struck the windshield.

I squeezed my ring tighter around my index finger.
Spun it until I felt it puncture my skin.

Today was the last day of school before Christmas break. 
I gave William a kiss and a bag of red hots.
He gave me a promise, my ring.

We had it all
figured out beneath the monkey bars.
Get married, have a little girl 
when we turn sixteen, like my momma and daddy.
Perfection. This year

I am finally Mary in the Christmas play. 
I wear blue, hold my baby. I outgrew the cast of angels,
dollar store garland halos and white sheets.

Crackle broke up Elvis
Family involved in a single-car accident. Mr. Garret Francisco seems to have lost control. Only the oldest child survived.

Daddy kept driving. Momma kept singing. 
Sister’s halo reflected passing headlights.
I inhaled the loss
of innocence and held 
that year forever in my lungs.

ANGELA DRIBBEN

Angela Dribben is an astrologer and writer living in the Appalachian region of Virginia. She recently cofounded Great_Goodness, a YouTube show highlighting the good creatives put into the world. Her writing can be found in Orion, Split Rock Review, and more. Find Angela at www.twodogtarot.com and @Great_Goodness on YouTube.