She’d read the book, of course, like any self-respecting host. She’d purchased wine, white and red blends. She bought everything the internet told her was necessary for a cheese plate. Consequently, it overflowed the board she’d prepared. The nuts spilled over the counter—artfully. She poured herself the first glass of wine. Just to steady the nerves. Toyed with a caprese skewer. The questions came flowing out. She read passages at length and responded to them. She was the wittiest, best-read person in the room. She could handle both sides of the  argument since no one else was there to get in her way. In the morning, all the labels had been ripped from the bottles. The book’s spine was cracked open on the coffee table, littered with pistachio shells.

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Allison Burris writes whimsical poems exploring memory and magic from Oakland, CA. Her most recent publications are in Masque & Spectacle and Last Stanza Journal. You can find her at the library looking for a magic portal. If you find one first, let her know: https://linktr.ee/allisonburris.