#BlackPomade

[writinginnorthnorfolk]

Father’s Self-portrait with the Family

Mother put my hair in a plait,dressed me in my best blue skirtand red sailor blouse.Father set a timerand photographed the pose. I knew it would be boringand, deliberately turning,rummaged for stories in a chest,while mother froze, her blue dressblending into the mise en scene. She smiled faintly at the lensand then looked away,as did Father in his smart greysuit, and purple tie, blackpomaded…