he drives me back home
so that I can shower and change
and asks questions about
what he saw
truly amazed at what I can do
which is funny
since I find it the opposite of amazing
but since he doesn’t know what it should look like
I can understand

he tells me to dress nice
but I’m not sure how nice
so I spend way too long in front of my closet
while he watches TV
I decide on a dress
that isn’t too much
but makes me feel
beautiful

and maybe he agrees
because when he sees me
he smiles wide
and says, “You clean up nice.”

I leave a note for dad
who hasn’t returned yet

Ben offers his arm
and I take it