The Ethnic Aisle
by Jason Winchester
when the main character
hesitates to kiss
the love interest
or a stack of printer paper
to hold down their taxes when
they sip ginseng tea and
complain about their neighbors.
…
but is the tin can of yarn
underneath the couch
meant for immigrants?
or tear out the carpeting
and staple it to walls,
just to pretend that
everything is alright,
so when they find hope
in the ethnic aisle, they’ll
be sure to bring coupons.
…
or an act of cruelty,
without warning or
even sweet tea,
wondering where
did it all go wrong.
or does the
difference between
heartache and heartburn
feel the same as a pillowcase
over a stained mattress, as
a garage sale to get rid of her
paintings is a way to maintain
that coveted American Smile.
About the Author
Jason Winchester is a junior at Southern Oregon University, working towards his B.F.A. in Creative Writing. Jason is Asian-American, being half-Korean and white, and he lives in Tacoma, Washington.