A Tableau

Sometimes I think of my whole family slowly rolling through town on a big float. Tethered to the float are gigantic balloons of Darth Maul and Dora. Sherry sits at a round table tearing coupons out of a Sunday paper while Frank walks alone around a perimeter "bike path". Bailee peels a mangoe while Ben tries to show her his latest drawing of a new kind of helicopter. Talia is on a raised platform in front of a full-length mirror trying on earrings and lipstick. Josh sits across from Sherry at the round table counting dollar bills. Every once in a while he rises and chops garlic on a chopping board. Kasama is in a swim suit with "water wings" and a scuba snorkel, dancing with an animated sea turtle. Saydee rides a tricycle around a large box of animal crackers as Daisy crawls speedily after her. Dan sits motionless in front of a flat screen TV which is showing a rerun of "The Simpsons." Stereo speakers at the front of the float blare out the latest Tom Jones hit: "As Good As It gets." Every so often one of the family members gives a wave to the sidelines of cheering children and their parents.