Manners of a Dress

By Otahyo'ni

Inspired by the artwork

"1922 Horton Heights Tea Party"

by Lynda E. Andrus

They sit,

hands folded carefully

in tiny child laps.

Starched muslin straightens posture.

A lady’s back never touches her chair.

Mary pours the tea

in an invisible stream from the delicate red teapot

for her younger sister, Charlotte

who nods gravely in gratitude,

black ringlets undisturbed by the deliberate motion.

Mary is six.

She has never tasted real tea.

She puts the teapot back

in its proper place.

Just so.

She raises the matching red teacup

to her lips

only after her younger sister has tasted her tea.

The hostess never drinks first.

Her movements are careful.

She mustn’t wrinkle her dress.

She sips at the invisible liquid,

imagining it tastes like honeysuckle nectar,

and the teacup is one of their mother’s tulips.

Their mother stands beside the table,

starched muslin perfection identical to her daughters,

hands folded precisely in front of her.

She corrects them.

“Charlotte, hold your little finger

like this.

Mary, do not drop your chin

when you drink.”

Her voice soft, cultured,

flat.

It matches her eyes.

She teaches her daughters

The proper way to act.

How to be a lady.

Pretty

in a dress.

Invisible

as the tea.