CASSANDRA PEREIRA

Tea Party Forever

for Nina, my first friend

We loved to climb the fence that separated our yards. You’d jump over first. Here, let me help you. Okay. Okay. My little sneaker in your little hand. My little hand on the sunhot metal. Chain links rattled like ice cubes in lemonade as we scaled to the top of our world. Two thuds and then a race, to nowhere and always the cherry tree, the shed, the shade. Push me higher on the swing and later I’ll push you! Loose in the lawn, the swing posts rose with fluttering braids. Rhythmic wallops caused the Earth to quake. Too high! Too high! I kicked out my sneakers and broke through the sky. All the cherries fell to the ground, then, and I too tumbled down grabbing gobs of frosting from the clouds. Ow! On the green grass you stood over me and pulled me up, the teeth of your smile still growing in. Now let’s play house! I’m going to bake a cherry cake. And I’m going to make a pie. Then, back in your playhouse, we made enough pastries for a lifetime of tea parties. 

Cassandra Pereira is a writer, editor, vocalist and collage artist with degrees in literature and psychology. Her work endeavors to foster peace and joy through creativity and contemplation. Visit her at cassandrapereira.com.