wanda

you force
yourself to call
wanda
to say
happy holidays.
she scolds you
for ten minutes
as she's prone
to do when drinking
then says
happy holidays
to you too.
you know you
could visit
once in awhile,
I'm only
a plane flight
away. at this
point you turn
the dishwasher on
and hold
phone close
to the racket of
pots and pans
being pummeled
by water
and detergent.
bad connection,
you tell her.
i'll you back.
I can't hear you.
happy holidays,
wanda.