Page 145 of The Black Flamingo

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There’ll be another train.”

I realize Mum is crying.

I wrap my arms back around her.

I hadn’t realized she missed me

so much.

When she finally lets go,

she says, “Oh, I almost forgot.”

Mum reaches into her handbag

and pulls out the flamingo toy.

“Why did you want me to bring this?”

“To remind me of home,” I say,

because I think it sounds right.

Really, it’s gonna be part of my drag act.

When Drag Soc meets the following week,

it feels like a homecoming.

My drag family try to help me

develop my character more fully.

I’ve picked my lip-sync song:

“Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse,

but the version sung by Beyoncé

on theGreat Gatsbysoundtrack.

I’ve brought my heels with me,

and Mzz B lends me a black feather boa.

I haven’t decided on my dress yet,

so I rehearse my lip sync for them

in my regular attire—jeans and a sweater—

but with my high heels on my feet

and borrowed boa around my neck.

I feel a little closer to becoming.

A lip sync is a mime

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