Burly men with their mothers, br sisters, wives, lovers male and female – come. br br br I misunderstand my instructions. br I am to keep her place in the long br check out line – a son around which br earth rotates gathering in br ever greater bolts of 'good deal' fabric. br br br Calico and shoulder pads, moleskin br and dual duty thread call from their shelves. br br br Young lovers wait br in the long check out line, br women kibitz with one another, br with some there is discussion br of the complexities of fabric br custom sewing. br br br One fellow states: “I don’t like fabric.” br He may speak for many br but not for all br he is the bold one br in a fabric store br filled with men and women br on Black Friday. br br br copyright retained br W. A. Grace br permissions at: WGrace@satx.rr.