Aunt Shirley’s pecan pie, luscious
soft sweetness, crispy pecans
tenderly cradled in crust

Parents, siblings,
aunts, uncles, cousins sit— gathered
onto couch, soft chairs, hard chairs,
the floor, or stand wherever

scents of roasted meat
and cinnamon cake
waft in the air among them

laughter and teasing and storytelling
family with Grandma in her living room

Dad lifts his elbows, leans back in chair
clasps hands behind his head
gray blue eyes glint pleased
he tells us—
Ohhh, that’s good
Aunt Shirley’s pecan pie

Shirley perks across the room— Do you want another slice?

Dad signals positive, hand spread, upward motion
You bet! I thought it was all gone.

It is… Shirley hurries from her seat
whirls round toward the kitchen—
dress hem flies out behind her

This won’t take long!

Shirley bakes a whole new pie
her sister’s husband wants another

bite