FITTING

An excerpt from Surrounded by Water

By Stefanie Freele

Tiredness is tremendous when he tells me I’m so bed-wrinkly I remind him of a biker’s favorite leather jacket. I say thanks, tie my robe, settle in front of the window which displays an overexcited autumn – the orangest, yellowest, reddest exhibit ever witnessed. Whoever says he isn’t full of compliments doesn’t understand his jabs. I’m aware how rough I am, how rough I feel, lids won’t quite open. Drinking his cinnamon-coffee I contemplate that worn-in spot on a leather jacket just inside of the elbow when the wrinkles find themselves and set a pattern. Soon thereafter, the arms can maneuver. When you are comfortable doing pushups or climbing sycamore trees, the sleeves move like a body-part and the fit has legitimately arrived. I’m pleased being described as a biker’s favorite leather jacket.  When he switches the metaphor to perhaps his best work gloves, finger-smooth, palm-snug and smelling of pine, I’m game with that too because I know what a disappointment it would  be to lose a pair like me.

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Visit www.stefaniefreele.com.

Surrounded by Water is currently available for pre-order with Press 53. Click here for more info.

Contact the author at Stefanie@stefaniefreele.com.