Said the Gramophone

Future Daughters

Animal Collective - "In the Flowers"

The first and oldest, nameless and quiet. Not a picky eater, eyes that linger on shiny things, sometimes dart around the room, but smile when they meet mine. She'll grow up slender with dirty floppy socks and hilarious hair. Posters of quiet boys on her wall, reading books like Sophie's World and even the morning paper with her cereal (!). A vegetarian, we'll go through that together, and fascinated by famous old speeches. She'll write a story about a queen with her name and a dragon with mine, and I'll read it while I shouldn't be drinking. Hanging on every word, inflating them with meaning they never had, and thinking "what a genius, I never taught her that."

Animal Collective - "My Girls"

The second, nameless and grinning. A tomboy, landed, knees akimbo, as if from a treehouse or heaven. Flashing eyes and dirty feet, yet still more interested in fancy clothes than her sister. Lacy dresses, heeled shoes with buckles and little purses, all thrown about and ruined. Admires her older sister like you would something in a museum, a crown jewell. Sleeps in a hammock and goes to speech therapy, and hates hates hates homework. Writes "formal complaints" that she leaves on the fridge that say things like "please put the cap on the toothpaste" and "turn your music down, dad". She's so open and friendly with strangers, part of me gets scared, part of me cries with happiness.

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