layers that cover me

i twisted my golden door handle to my bedroom like i was shaking a familiar hand and threw my jacket on the floor a top a heap of dirty clothes. my room was pitch black so bent over, trying to find the switch for my lamp which sits on a single red milk-crate. it gets dark much earlier now that it's getting colder outside. as the light bulb animated the room, i saw that my bed was made--for the first time in a long time. the most comfortable nfl blanket that i got in 1993 is the first layer. it sports all the football team's helmets, some of which have different designs now. a deep red fleece cover is next, the origins of which are unknown. my mom probably bought it one time she was visiting. next, a pittsburgh steelers blanket, which my friend found in the dumpster and threw on me one morning, or afternoon, when i was half asleep. finally the black and white comforter rests on top, holding the heat in. two sets of pillows stacked at the top of the bed, this is because my old roommate and good friend was staying with me for a week at the time. she must be responsible for this masterpiece.

[now, a week later, the same blankets form a pile resembling a small mountain range pressed against my wall, the cat is sleeping where my pillows usually lie and cracker crumbs and dandruff are sprinkled over the brown sheets as if it were stale confetti that burst from a party gun late last night.]