Dixieland

The first born spoke memories of my birth. He remembered O’Toole [our father] spinning gravel at the corner of Deerfield and Glenwood blaring Dixieland Jazz from the AM radio of the red Rambler, “Outamyway Wegota Yankee Doodle Dandy. . .” I was born on the 4th of July. I was a month late. I was the sixth born [in seven yrs.] and afterthought, the second sister who wasn’t. A left handed devil (according to the Catholics.) Someone to wait at home for the other five. A willing conspirator. Someone to shoulder the blame. I had coxcomb eyes and a pirate’s smile. I liked to dis-assemble travel clocks. I looked like any sibling I stood next too. I was very smart but would not amount to much. I bought into the myth of the family. And the Dixieland band just played on. . .