Hot Summer Night

The wound up toy soldiers of yesterdays
have proven to be thinking of only the future.

They kick and sputter
as Dad stone washes the patio and yells at me to move.

I'm in my overalls and play barefooted.

He threatens to spray me with the hose,
so I move my army to the grass.

I let the plush grass settle between my toes before a single blade cuts my heel.

I remove it and watch as a single drop of blood tears from my skin
and lands in the palm of my hand.

My eyes start to roll to and fro
and my lungs exhaust all of my oxygen.

When I wake,
I find myself in my bed.

Mother has turned on the spinning kaleidoscope of stars I use as a night light.

I am blanketed and tucked tightly under the sheets.

Next to me lies Teddy.

I hear screaming from the other side of a closed door.

The light peaking around the door frame calls to me but I am pinned in so tightly, I couldn't move if I wanted to.

I hear a loud BANG.

A sound not like the one that comes from the Pillsbury dinner rolls when they are opened from their canister.

The light around the door frame flickers and becomes obstructed.

I close my eyes and fold my hands in to prayer position.

I hear my father crying, but I keep my eyes closed.

For a moment I feel something warm and steel press against my forehead, but I keep my eyes tightly shut.

The steel object is replaced by a kiss from father.

He exits my room, sniveling.

Once my door is shut I peak under my eyelids.

The room is empty.

I stay up all night waiting for him to come back.

Afraid to leave my room in case he does.

But he never returns.