Let's Play Pretend

hazy pale substance spreads over stale rye toast you crunch it too loudly your mother says chew with your mouth closed paper napkins in a big black trash bag smeared with hor d’vers cocktail parties you weren’t invited to i laugh when you drop food on your lap your mother scorns alone on a porch remolding the moon brie cheese wedges you thought the stars were too tiny to hold close it was my party i pretend not to like you