From the book published in 2021, And Don’t Come Back.

Pickup Breakfast

Before school before work
Small boy in plaid flannel shirt
His mother
purse draped crossbody
over a fluffy white sweater
they wait in line
She is watching the time
He is watching the parking lot
I see a red car
a Buick?
Our car’s a white car
That one is pink
wait look a school bus
You like it?
School bus he points Look.
School bus she repeats
rummaging in her purse
Way over there so far away he says
and he leap-hops up to the counter
long strides of short legs
Chocolate chip
oh I’d like cranberry
a muffin? a bagel? a croissant?
What’s a croissant?

1/23/20