Holy Grail

Feeling too young and rebellious to submit

To a summer wardrobe of capris

I search for the perfect pair of knee-length shorts.

Four pairs in my closet:

One splattered with paint,

Two and three too short to wear out of the house,

Four falls off if I stand up too fast.

The hunt has lasted twelve years.

Twelve long years of

Low-riding,Tugging,

Hiding from the honor code police,

And hoping no one notices white shadows at my knees.

Yesterday at Marshall’s.

Eureka!

Eight pairs in my size!

$12.99!

Long, not too dark, not too light.

I sprinted to the dressing room.

Off the hanger they looked suspiciously large.

Looking at the tag at the waist.

Suppressing a wail.

Six sizes too big.

At the rack, rifling vainly, the others also deceived me.

I left the store, melting in the late September heat.

So close! So far!

The search continues.

originally published 1/06