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Ang Tunay Na Lalaki Meets Barbie At The Shark Bar
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on Mulberry and Spring on a rainy night. Her head sticks out of some woman’s tote bag placed on top of the bar, she winks at Ang Tunay na Lalaki. He looks at his gin and tonic, looks back at the doll and hears her tiny voice even though her lips aren’t moving. "Hi there, big guy. I was made in the Philippines. You look like you were made there too." He responds just to humor himself, "Where, at the Subic Bay manufacturing plants? Did you enjoy being made by exploited laborers?" Barbie crawls onto the sticky bar and sits herself on the edge crossing her legs. "I remember those delicate fingers expertly sewing the hairs to my head. Those women were so nice to me." She bends at her waist to let her hair down and dramatically lifts her head up so her blond locks turn into a glamorous puff, "See, they did a good job. You must admit." "You’re incorrigible," he exhales a cloud of smoke after lighting up a cigarette, "And you’re all plastic, petroleum based plastic." Barbie places her palms against her face and begins to sob. Ang Tunay na Lalaki sticks out his middle finger, strokes the back of her head, "Now, now, doll. First time anyone ever told you the truth?" Barbie lifts her left arm to swipe away his finger, "My name’s Barbie! Not Doll, Sweetie, Honey, or Dolly. It’s Barbie!" Ang Tunay na Lalaki sips his gin, "Look, Barbie. You have the perfect life, you’re the world’s best-selling doll and millions of little girls are buying you dresses. Even the top fashion designers design outfits for you." Barbie straightens her back as if she had a spine, places her hands on her lap, "But you don’t know how hard it is to be beautiful all the time. See, you made my mascara run." He takes a napkin, dips it into his drink, proceeds to wipe off the small black streaks on her cheeks, "It’s acrylic, a water based paint." He reaches into his pocket for a ball-point pen, draws rich eye lashes around her eyes. Barbie slides over to a shot glass, stares at her reflection, "Hey, you’re good at this. Have you ever considered a career in make-up? I could recommend you to our designers, you know." Suddenly a woman’s human hand plucks Barbie off the bar, stuffing her back into a tote bag. His eyes follow the tote bag out the door. All he can see is a puff of blond hair and a stiff arm swaying back and forth like a metronome.
Nick Carbo
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Read poems about / on: humor, woman, hair, women, beautiful, remember, spring, truth, water, running, girl
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