She’s Contrary JULIA RUTH SMITH

Julia Ruth Smith

She’s Contrary

Suede A small girl collects cockles on a mudflat, her pale blue suede ballerina shoes ruined forever and freckles on her nose.

Spots I liked spots and then everyone liked spots so I never wore them again. The same with stripes but even more so.

Blue I remember a motorbike, and a newborn child and a pair of blue jean dungarees, being thinner than ever; being too young with short-cropped hair and the summer.

Flip Flops The doctor said in late October, are you going to give birth in flip-flops? The nurse said, Albanian? It rained when you were born.

Hoops One day I wore big hoops in almost closed holes and everyone said I should wear them more often because I looked feminine. I lost one of them in a bottomless bag.

Silver I bought myself a silver ring, sure I would be alone forever. You came briefly, beautifully as I paid it off and then you angrily left. So I was right.

Socks At the airport they make me take my boots off. I have huge holes in my socks. That’s what you get for not listening to your mother.

Skirt The skirt I am wearing cost me 2 euros, second-hand. When it blew up yesterday with a gust of wind, you’d have thought it was Prada.

Yellow In unusual snowfall I wore a bright yellow anorak. There was just me and Sandro and my dog out that day so no-one even noticed, so heavy was it coming down.

Pink I’m no pink girl. But Nico was getting married and Eli said try it on. Chiara said, wear it with boots. And it sparkled pink sequins.