This is how Caroline pares her nails, a tiny curved scissor glints in pink palm is how Caroline cuts the moony edge, gathers prim cuticle, orange stick stickbug pushing back the fleshy rim is how Caroline creams her palms, callus to callus Caroline's pink palm, is how she paints her nails brush dipped in lacquer, sable smoothed flat against slick cell is how Caroline paints her nails, draws color cold, brings hand to mouth touches paint with tip of pink tongue to taste to test if the nail is dry, is how Caroline paints her nails, is how Caroline pares her nails.