BELLA

LITTLE SECRETS, REVELATIONS

PARENTS GOING ON VACATIONS

WITH THEIR CHILDREN LEFT UNTENDED

AND IT’S DAYS BEFORE THEY’RE FINALLY APPREHENDED

I’M NOT NAMING ANY NAME

OR ASSIGNING ANY BLAME

I JUST SNIP AND CLIP AND LISTEN

ANNE

WHISPERED TALES WITH PREGNANT PAUSES

TELL OF DEATHS FOR UNKNOWN CAUSES

DOROTHY

CASES JUDGES KEEP DISMISSING  

SINCE SOMEHOW A KEY POLICE REPORT GOES MISSING

BELLA

I’M NOT SAYING THIS IS FACT

OR THAT ANYONE SHOULD ACT

I JUST SNIP AND CLIP AND LISTEN AND CAREULLY LISTEN

BELLA, DOROTHY, ANNE

WHEN THEY COME FOR A STYLING AT BELLA’S

THEY OPEN THEIR MOUTHS LIKE UNFOLDING UMBRELLAS

BELLA

THIS ONE’S CARRYING SOMEONE’S BABY

AND THEY ALL SAY HER HUSBAND MAYBE

ISN’T REALLY BABY’S DAD.

ANNE

BUT ISN’T HE THE ONE WHO HAD

A TIDY INCOME SKIMMING CASH,

AND GOT IN AN UNREPORTED DRUNKEN CRASH?

DOROTHY

I’VE HEARD IT ALL A THOUSAND TIMES —

BELLA, DOROTHY, ANNE

SPOUSES BEATING UP ON SPOUSES,

KIDS INVADING EMPTY HOUSES

FARMERS STEALING WOMEN’S BLOUSES

AND A MILLION OTHER PETTY CRIMES.

AT BELLA’S WE DON’T MESS ABOUT

EVERYTHING COMES SPILLING OUT

HIDDEN CORNERS, DARK AND STEAMY

LURID AND CORRUPT AND SEAMY

BELLA

LAST WEEK IN THE CHAIR RIGHT NEXT TO ME

A WOMAN SAID SHE HEARD OF OXYCONTIN AND ECSTASY

SELLING HERE MUCH MORE THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT TO SEE

AND I WONDERED HOW THAT COULD WORK OUT FEASIBLY

UNDER THE NOSE OF OUR VIGILANT SHERIFF

UNLESS HE DIDN’T REALLY CARE IF

DRUGS WERE BEING SOLD SO EASILY

SO I JUST SNIP

DOROTHY, ANNE

SHE SNIPS

BELLA

AND CLIP

DOROTHY, ANNE

AND CLIPS

BELLA

AND LISTEN

DOROTHY, ANNE

TO EVERY LITTLE SECRET

BELLA

AND LISTEN

DOROTHY, ANNE

SHE’S EVER SO DISCREET AND CAREFULLY

BELLA

AND CAREFULLY, VERY CAREFULLY STAND AND LISTEN.

DOROTHY

TO EVERY LITTLE SECRET

ANNE

SNIP AND CLIP

BELLA

AND LISTEN

DOROTHY, ANNE

THAT’S WHY WE COME TO BELLA’S AFTER ALL.