Doing the Dishes by Lolly Vieira

she tries to quiet her shaking hands

as she places a silver spoon snuggly with another in the drawer

a soft clank sounds and her body freezes

except for her trembling fingers

they quake even harder

her ears are alert

anticipating an explosion

but it doesn't come quite yet

so she anxiously and oh so carefully picks up a plate from the dishwasher

this time her arms quiver as she lifts it above her head

to gently slide it on top of the stack in the cupboard

she lets go too soon, its thunderous clanging like a siren

"You're going to break the plates putting them away so roughly!" her mother screams at her as she storms into the kitchen

she wants to argue that she was doing her best

but she knows she wouldn't win

so instead she slinks away while whispering, "Sorry.."

the silverware and dishes create a boom band song as her mother furiously shoves them away

hypocritical sound waves reverberate in her ear drums

they push her to her bedroom and shut the door slowly, quietly

because if it slams, she's an ungrateful brat

who can't even put away the dishes properly

"I can't do anything right," she says to herself

in a lecherous voice that sounds exactly like her mother's