-
What Then
- Wayne State University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
52 What Then Notnowwaswhatmymothersaid,always said,everydaysaidlikeabagelleftontheshelf orsevenboxesofpaperclips.Iremember itwasalateafternoonafterschool,after thelethargicbusfilledwithsweatandhair andthosespiralnotebooksthathadaPanther onthecoverhadhauledtheday’stimeback tosnacks:ZebraCakes,cheesetwirls,jelly donuts,Coke,milk,DingDongs.Itwas ononeofthoseridesnotnowtookover andmyhandswentdeepintomypockets, andIknewtherewasnoplaceGod couldbealoneandnoplaceIcouldgo andnoplaceIcouldplaycatch orbakeafishsandwichorlaycement. Thestarswereasclose astheywouldeverget, andtheleavesoneverytreehadnoidea theywereonatreelikethewaythemoon keptchangingthrougheachmonth evenwhenitroseoverTed’sGarage, likeabicycleleftoutunderabridge. So,Isatoutonthebackporch andimaginedIwasonthebackporch andhalf-expectedthehousetostay whereitwaswhilemymothertucked thesheetsaroundmypillowandsmoothed thecoversafterImadethebed.Iknew 53 I’dturnedoutthelight,butafterthat, thesmallbonesinmywristseemed likewordsthathadnoideawhatsentence theywerein,andmyeyesjustlookedout overthelongslowgreenofthebackyard. ...