Gabriel's Swing

Gabriel swung
Back and fourth in his yard,
All day.
It was cold winter,
Yet he stayed,
Lazily swaying.

His dog found him,
Looking to play.
He barked and
Howled at him,
Trying to take his attention.
But the boy kept to
His swing,
Obviously in no mood for games.

His cat came to him
Eventually,
Looking to be fed.
As all cats do,
It meowed for what,
To them,
Seemed like forever.
But the child stayed,
Ignoring the cat.

Some time,
Later that night,
Gabriel's mother returned
From work.
She looked around for her
Boy,
But he was
Nowhere to be seen.
Not in the house.
She had to check the backyard,
If only to see of he was there.
And he was.
Merrily swinging from
A tree.
Head cocked to the side,
Feet off the ground,
And a note,
Lightly clutched in his hand.