The days crawled like weeds

along the cracked pavement

Each warm morning
of that summer

We stepped out of the dark cave

where, moments before,

our pallets overlapped

on the musty carpet

and I'd pried open one tired eye

to see who else was awake

The neighborhood kids would gather

and Giovanni would pass by on his bike

I'd pretend that I wasn't blushing at the sight of him

And one of you would admonish me

to stay away from boys like that

We'd all play touch football in the street

Intermittent shouts of "Car!"

divided us to the left and to the right

like a stage curtain at show time

After ball games, we'd walk

While we walked, we wondered

While we wondered,

we laughed and dreamed

And the days crawled like weeds

along the sidewalk cracks

where my flip flops clucked

and your worn sneakers squeaked

on our way to the corner store,

a routine errand for your mom, my aunt

You'd convince me to use the food stamps

lest someone confirm we were poor

while you cooly loitered outside

"Don't forget..." you'd begin.

"Yeh, I know... food stamps can buy candy."

Those days that lingered

Are far away and long ago

I hope you still laugh,

and that you still dream

and that once in while,

life's choices are as simple

as... Lemonhead or Jawbreaker?