I stuff my stomach 
into a faded boy’s t- shirt and a pair of my younger brother’s cut off corduroys 

                            smile for the camera 

so you can’t see the stickers poking through my tube socks

                                     a tomboy’s grin

pulled to my ears, listening for the Nova to pull up the driveway
                        

                                 a scarecrow smile

given to a little sister in hopes the plates our mother throws

                                    won’t break