mandarin oranges

I like mandarin oranges

I like the way they taste

I like they way they look

I like how they fit in pockets

I like their straightforwardness

I like that they are easily segmented

I like how easily shared they are with others

I like how I can hold a few in my hand at once

I like the feeling when I peel it all in one long peel

I like running my thumb under the skin as I peel it

I like the way they make my hands smell afterwards, orange-y

I like how people seem mildly impressed when I am finished peeling

I like folding the skin back into its original sphere like I never peeled it at all

I like when people play along when I give it to them even though they know it’s just skin

I like putting the peel on my head like hat or fake hair and pretending it’s normal

I like pinching the peel and looking at the little spray of citrus

I like ripping the peel up into little, tiny, itty-bitty pieces

I like having that little orange pile on my desk

I like knocking the little green ****** off

I like chewing on the big pieces of pith

I like looking at the word pith

I like saying pith, pith, pith

I like mandarin oranges

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