Escaping into Comfort

Published in the Street Roots 2017 Zine Perspectives on Escape

Escaping into Comfort
By Aileen McPherson
I found you one fall day in the overstuffed rack at Mae’s Thrift Store, I searched that rack twice. I passed you by until again you said Hi! You were a big, baggy turtleneck meh it will work, and green pine green like no other I’d seen, kinda clownish but not completely, it looks warm, soft mostly, just needs a good wash, ok you’re my new friend.
I found during the years my sweater was awesome, it made me feel like a kid again. I could pull my knees up and snuggle that sweater under my bottom while covering toes without much over stretch, this is Super Sweater, it was also fun when ears were cold pop your skull in and a turtle comes out, many times my friends’ laughter did peal, for this sweater they said was the ugliest they’d seen, it’s plain and drab and baggy way too baggy, but that’s what’s great about it, to more laughter.
Later that year, to a family event I was sequestered by the same said friends who laughed at my comforting old sweater, still wonderful to me wherever it may be, to gifts being exchanged round the table, Mom for she was to all of us, handed one to her son, who upon opening the box found a sweater, in multiple shades a rainbow so diverse it might make a Leprechaun sick, the textures were the same, soft, coarse, fluffy, rough, tight, feathery, loose, and the patterns, stripes, spots, zigs, zags, ruffley, puffy, flowers so big and bright you’d think they had a smell, and is that a fish or a whale?
This sweater was crazy, but mine was the best, old, loved, full of comfort and care, for such a plain drab ugly sweater. I have no idea where I’ve lost my friend.
My hope is it’s interred in our storage. Until it returns, I found a hoodie on the ground outside a house who put out clothing for anyone to grab, it’s black and red, covers toe to head, and brings comfort daily, a hug when no one’s around.