the missing dress

your friend betty wants
to contact her mother
who has been dead for ten
years. she misses her
dearly and wants
to find out where she
put that one dress
she used to wear
with the lace fringe.
she loves that dress.
so you go to
the local gypsy fortune
teller. it's a cape cod house
on the highway next to
the silver diner. we take
some snacks and drinks
along in case it's a long
wait in contacting her,
it's been a long time
since they buried her,
and she was never one
to answer the door
with one set of knocks
or one pressing of the door
bell. after an exchange of money,
we sit around the table,
putting the chips into
a bowl, and pouring
out some fresca on ice,
her mom's favorite.
the gypsy lady pushes
a few buttons with her
feet, making the music
go on, and some smoke
to rise out of the air
vents. it sputters a little.
I have to get that fixed
she says, do you know
a good hvac man? we both
shake our heads no.
join hands she says and
close your eyes. some music
begins to play. Elton john's
funeral for a friend.
betty opens one eye and
whispers, she hated Elton
john, which makes the gypsy
woman stomp on the floor
and then the music switches
to john Denver. rocky
mountain high. whatever,
betty says.
I see her, the gypsy says.
she's smiling and happy
that you are here.
she's running through a
field of flowers and green
grass. singing. what is she
singing, betty asks.
something about doe a deer
a female deer. ask
her where the dress is,
you say, bored and ready
to get out of there.
the smoke is making your
eyes itch. plus
the fresca is flying
right through you. you have
to pee like seabiscuit before
a race. the dress. oh,
right, the dress, the gypsy
says. she's wearing it.
what the hell, betty says.
we buried her in that
dress? I'm sorry, the gypsy
says. so sorry. but the image
is fading. is there anything
else you want to ask her.
she's waving her hands,
saying goodbye to you...
and something about a blue
denim dress in the bottom
drawer where she kept her
rolled coins.
nah, betty says. denim?
really? we're
done here. thanks.