I used to eat dirt

 

And steal my brother’s clothes

to play football at school with the boys.

One time on a really hot

summer day

My brother and dad were doing yardwork

with their shirts off.

So I took mine off,

And paraded around the front yard

Not even knowing what nipples were.

 

“Go play with your barbies,” they yelled.

 

*

 

Dollar Bill

 

There is a lady

Down by the corner

Always wearing a long puffy

Purple coat

Shuffling along the sidewalk

In front of the local convenience store

She says with a memorable grin

“money please”

Her small black eyes squinting

With anticipation

Sometimes she just stands there

Hand held out

Waiting

She asks everyone that walks by

Some people stop

Most people don’t

One time I surprised her with a dollar bill

That was the tightest squeeze

I had ever received