Page 176 of The Black Flamingo

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between us.’

Number five: ‘You know what they say,

once you go black you never go back.’”

Lennie yells, “Tell them!”

Next comes my

burlesque routine.

I perform a strip tease

with my lip sync

to “Back to Black”

sung by Beyoncé.

I suggestively

open and close

the pink faux fur coat

before I let it drop

to the floor.

I snatch off

the pink wig

and throw it

into the audience.

I shimmy

with the feather boa,

then wrap it around

a smiling stranger in the front row.

I slip out of the tutu

and kick it away.

The crowd

goes wild for it. For me!

I stand triumphant

in a leotard and heels,

a full face of makeup

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