from the picture - The Nail

it started out an inch in diameter
it was yellow and had black streaks embedded
in its covering
crusted brown and orange peeked out from under
the nail bed
gradually over time
the nail thickened
and became humped
it grew to two inches and the end started to curl
and grow back towards the finger

21 year old lisa tried to polish the nail
to make it look presentable
she colored it pink
she colored it red
she colored it black

one time she even put gold spots on it
but to no avail
the nail had its own life
and nothing she did could improve it.

she tried cutting the nail
but it was hard and brittle and in the end
the tiny nail scissor broke

she tried tearing the nail off her finger
she squeezed her eyes tightly shut
bit her lip
and pulled and pulled at the nail
but to no avail the nail wouldn't budge
she just succeeded in making her finger red and swollen.

finally she bought a nail cover

she found one in the pawn shop
the nail cover was purple
two inches in length
just enough to cover the nail of her right middle finger
it had little silver flecks on it like someone had been
painting a room and paint had dribbled on to the nail cover.

oh, well,
lisa said, to the nail cover, "you're mine now."

she had wondered why anyone would own such a nail cover
and why would anyone pawn such an item.

the pawnbroker said it had belonged to an old woman
who said it had been in the family a long time
belonged to her great grandmother and had been handed
down time and time again.

Lisa bought the story
and paid $100 for the nail cover.

she hummed as she left the pawn store
and hurried home to crow's nest to try on her new nail cover.

it was a warm summer day
in the 1880's
and the streets were full of afternoon workers
who had at that precise moment poured out into the streets
just as lisa had closed the brown wooden door of the pawnshop

it was mid break, time for lunch

she had heard the church bells
as her hand left the knob of the pawn shop door

Lisa's ears had piqued
and two fully formed tiny pink lips compressed
and then her tongue peaked out and just as quietly slid away

on Lisa's face
two slanted eyebrows had come down
and formed a perfect triangle
with a tiny crinkled upturned nose

all these facial expressions happened in
perfect syncronisity
as two tiny black healed shoes hit the pavement

lisa's mind was racing
she was going to be late
it was maddening
didn't she have enough on her mind
with this nail cover thing
and now this crowd
she caught her breath
she had to get through this crowd
if she was going to get to crow's nest in time for high tea.

her breath whistled through her mouth
and she darted in and out of the crowd
holding her precious cargo gripped tightly in the palm of her
hand and wrapped ever so tightly in a golden cloth.

finally
her palm and fingers became a balled up fist
and she thrust her small hand into the pocket of her dress.

as lisa thrust her hand into the pocket
the nail
snagged on the inside lining of the pocket of her dress
and was anchored safely and secure in the folds of the warmth
of her tiny pocket.

lisa hummed
she had a good feeling
as she made her way home

it was as her mother used to say in the day
all is well
all is well.
all was well.