Instant
mashed potatoes.
Your dad’s
jam tomato sauce—He’s a cook I know. He
must not be bad.
We stole
your roommate’s powdered lemonade to wash it all down
Because I was addicted to sugar.
Because I was addicted to sugar.
I think we
may have fought—
or was that
the time before the last,
You calculating
how much money you’d spent on food for me,
while I cried.
while I cried.
I told you
later you were all wrong
That food
you ate was mine too. I bought you those
instant potatoes.
And besides,
you need to cut your calculation in half.
Were you
starving while I went to town in your cupboards and fridge?
This is a
grudge, I know. But I don’t forget,
when I’m accused of stealing hundreds of dollars from
someone who
convinced me to date him. I’d take your money and run,
if I had
known then about the promise.
II
Dear Sam,
I write to
you now that it’s been more than two years
since we
have
parted ways.
Remember the
promise? I made you make?
That in time
we would reacquaint our
selves with
each other.
Well, I’m
collecting.
If you had
hoped I’d forget, think again.
A little
East Coast-West coast distance isn’t going to stop me
from remembering,
The first
boy who said he loved me.
Thank you for
teaching me that words mean nothing,
promises or
professions, coming from humans
who, every
day and every moment, change.
Mimi
III
Dear Sam,
Sorry about
those pent up feelings from the last letter.
I tripped on
the way home and it landed in the mailbox.
Forgive my
clumsy ways.
I’m glad I
saved a copy though. I’m planning on
sending it
to my new
ex-boyfriend.
(I’m sure
you expected that your spot would be filled).
His name is Solomon.
He taught me
how to forget you and him at the same time
and that the
word love is sacred.
He stopped
saying it the moment it disappeared
You should
have too.
In the
future, try to not break another girl
Use your
body not your words. It isn’t as
binding.
Words mean
nothing if you venture to change, but she may not know that.
Hope to
never hear from you again, Mimi.
IV
Mimi,
Your rough
streak
Sounds sucky.
Good luck! With
that!
Sorry I
never responded
B T W.
I’ve been so
busy at work.
They pay me
loads.
About that
promise,
That I never
made.
Maybe you are
right.
We do
change.
So don’t
hold it against me.
Especially
because
You changed
much more than me.
Remember?
