Oil cracks on the frying pan in the kitchen. Dice in a boggle bubble rattle. I just can’t stopplays on the black-and-blue mini radio Frankie got for Christmas. Aroma of frying breadcrumbs permeates the living room.

Anticipation and dread for tomorrow slowly strangle me.

It’s that time.

January night—
Preparing the last rich meal
Of the holidays

first published in Image Curve, January 8, 2015

Photograph from DFC