second grade thanksgiving

i went home sick the day they chose who would dress up as me and who would be the white man

they were all white, but they practiced dancing to the beat of a drum-poorly

I am not sure if it was illness, or deep trauma

embarrassment, shame and confusion

it was the day before the Wednesday before thanksgiving break

in second grade.

paper vests, with scissor cut fringe

fake paper feather stapled onto a headband

a mock powwow around ms.moss’s classroom

`i wore the foot bells, because i had authentic rhythm,

ms wilson told me- dressed in braided wig and faux buckskin