Surprise

by fabian cortez

It whistled by me

Forcing me back a little

Yet I fought through

The wind that day

Onward to collect

My cigarettes

From our convenient

Supermarket across

The busy road

-

My timing primed

From years of

Negotiation meant

It would hold no

Barrier’s up to

Veteran experience

At least to this

-

A lingering drag on

One, with a small shot

Of warming scotch

Was celebration

Enough to breathing

Another day

And I looked forward

To returning to

My preset table

-

Glass primed waiting

My return, I ignored

The raised voices of

Vaguely volatile

Youths as I left with

The fresh pack in

My pocket garnered

A slight eager

Excitement

From me

-

As I crossed the road

I heard the youths call out

“Hey Mister, Hey!”

I ignored them as always

As continued on my way

Yet as I reached the other side

A screech of brakes

Brought my aging limbs

To a halt

-

He’d run after me,

I’d forgotten my wallet

Now spilled out on

The road as the boy lay

There in state

I leaned into him as he

Was trying to speak

“Your wallet

You forgot your.”

He whispered gasping

For breath until

He could no more

-

I retrieved my wallet

Aware his friends were

Calling for help

And hurried home

As I sat enjoying my

Smoke and scotch

I considered, how an

Old man like me couldn’t

Get involved, but still,

“People can surprise

You, sometimes

Can’t they.”

copyright©2006 fabian cortez