when I was a young boy

next door there lived a girl

or should I say young woman

she dated very old men

Sherry was the tender age of thirteen

her parents were always gone

so were mine

she lived at her grandmother's rundown duplex

I lived with five siblings

liquor storage room in back of mom's lounge

she sat in front of me

seventh grade class .. junior high

always sleeping .. head flat on her desk

I'd wake her after the school bell sounded

pulling on her long .. unkempt pigtails

worn, tattered clothes

a flour sack dress

she went to mom's lounge

asked for a job

cleaning up .. washing dishes

mom took her aside

bought her some clothes

gave her a job

before long she was dancing

with every cowboy and biker around

a couple of years passed by

Wayne .. a young pool hustler

caught her eye .. she cozied up to him

next thing anyone knew

they'd ran off and gotten married

kids .. grandkids .. she'd a happy life

until this past week .. they put her in the ground

rumor has it .. she couldn't breathe

paramedics had arrived too late to save her

soon i'll drink Heineken Light .. break some glass

scream her name amongst others .. across the river

Copyright @ November 2013

StandingBear