The Reunion
Fog swirls,
the scene unfolds,
there are campers and rv’s parked all around the yard.
The house is our house,
but it’s so much bigger.
Hallways lead to full bedrooms,
all of the beds are old,
the bed-clothes reveal their age with a musty smell.
The beds are full of family long past,
as well as those whose heart still beat.
The hallways are so long,
the old wallpaper and carpet,
blend into the reddish haze,
of old time horror movies.
My little cousin finds and follows me.
Were outside,
I don’t know how,
I don’t know why.
Family, both late and living,
Sit at bonfires,
or are seen through camper windows.
The trailers fade and form,
Individually pulsing from this world,
to the in-between.
Fog trails like smoke behind my little cousin,
as she takes the lead,
fading in and out of this time.
Afraid I’ll lose her,
I follow,
no matter how fast I run,
she is just beyond my sight.
The scene shifts,
we are on the other side now.
The fog still rolls,
light still dim
checkpoints are here and there.
They don’t seem to notice her,
but their eyes follow me with menace.
I don’t recognize their nationality,
most of them seem of Asian descent,
their language solidify my theory.
We weave through winding streets of yesteryear,
our clothing shifts with each transition.
The checkpoint guards ahead,
close in after my cousin passes,
I hear words that I don’t understand,
they reach for me,
I pass through their arms.
I carry on,
looking for her,
following only swirling fog,
moved by her passing.
The scene opens up on a dimly lit old time carnival.
Musty smells,
turn to cotton candy and caramel apples.
The sounds of machinery and thrill seekers,
joyishly yelling,
fill the night.
Who was I following?
A man in an old-timy suit calls to me,
“win a prize every time my friend.”
Smells of warm pretzels and French fries,
Pull me toward the right.
Hand squeezed lemonade,
with too much sugar,
guide my memories,
toward times past.
The fog slightly fades,
bringing this old time carnival,
into more of a solid memory.
Memory,
that’s not the right word,
these images are way before my time.
The fog is gone now,
how did i ever question why i was here.
My clothes look like like i belong here.
“Win a prize every time!”
The movement of swirling fog,
pull my eyes to the left,
She giggles
It echoes in my head.
Its her,
Yes, that’s why I’m here
I sprint after her as fog swirls all around.
As the carnival fades,
“a prize every time” rings out one last time.
The hallway forms around me once again.
I walk towards the room ahead,
a dim red light illuminates the foggy air,
a giggle fills my mind.
I walk through the door.
I see her in the third bed,
covers pulled up,
she’s tucked in lovingly.
Face gaunt,
cheeks sunken,
eyes closed.
Its been so many years.
I remember the day she drown,
she was in my care.
Falling to my knees,
I sob for her,
I sob for me.
Rest little one,
I’ll never forgive myself.
I wake in my bed,
drenched in sweat,
I sit up,
tears roll down my cheeks,
my breath hitches as I try to stop crying.
Her giggles fill my mind.
I reach for the straight razor on my night stand.
I’m coming Tina,
I’m sorry mom.