the
paint was completely peeled off
an
old man sitting in a rocking chair
exposing
a dark wood exterior
think
of swampy boards and humidity
off
a soupy lake erie
we
lived next door
my
older brother was in grade school
i
was three or four walking down to a neighbor
and
a house full of hungry kids
while
mom put in another factory shift
at
columbia burner
this
was about 1951 or 52
and
an over-sized sombrero
was
placed on my head for a picture
with
a photogenic donkey
making
the rounds
in
the neighborhood
there
was white bread and peanut butter
for
lunch most every day
the
house full of babysat kids
ate
fast and then ran out to the sidewalks
and
back alleys
looking
for adventure
as
i followed
being
maybe the youngest in the gang
meant
being coaxed into a good number
of
more risky dares
like
throwing a water filled balloon
at
the old man's porch
which
brought him out yelling
in
an unfamiliar language
when
i was asked
how
old i was i remember trying
to
say as clearly as possible that i was three
but
it came out through my whistling front teeth
that
i was
free
nonetheless
i'm not exaggerating to say
that
i am truly sorry for all past transgressions
even
at this late stage
even
as the creaky frame houses
fade
or
get plowed under
and
the peanut butter
left
on your face
becomes
indelible
---
e b bortz
