childhood lessons

 

When I was younger

I stole 20 dollars from my mother’s purse

I needed cigarettes and lunch money

Later that week she called me

Stuck on the side of the road

She sounded so disappointed

Saying her gas money had disappeared

She would have to wait for her husband to come

He was to tow her back home

I automatically confessed, I'm not the type

Who lies or likes lying

But this time, truth didn't suit me

I told her I took the money

For a school art project I'd been slaving over

She said that wasn't so great

But didn't get too angry, only warning me against theft

I promised to pay her back soon

With the money I'd been saving from the sales

She told then

She had hoped for a day together

Just her and myself, dinner and maybe some shopping

That she would like to talk to me

About my life, I disappeared too much

When she returned home I gave back the money

Double what I owed and swore never again

She laughed and put it away in her purse

The next day there was a letter left for me

Taped to the TV downstairs

'Gone for the day, watch your brother'

I didn't realize then

That my guilt got me used...and her free

From being mother for a day

And just playing the childless newly-wed

In a broken marriage

I was suddenly very thankful

          For the packet of smokes under my pillow

Author's Note

Cp. 5:59PM Tue 07/08/08 'Woke Up This Morning' Nickelback trying to work, i need a girlboy feeling, oh damn this soulful voice that won't escape, trying to create (Typed, House)