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The Deedle Laughed Today
I left work at two, over-joyed
to have a teeth cleaning
scheduled.
I don't like
the dentist's office,
but it's better than
what I would've been doing.
The hygenist was
a little surprised when I fell
asleep in her chair, bleeding
gums and all.
I was just so relaxed.
No one had asked me to
do anything for five whole
minutes.
She had to shake me
several more times.
"Uh, could you please open
your mouth, Mr. Edwards?"
I passed on going to the bar,
drove straight home instead.
The girls were playing in a park
somewhere in the wealthy
neighborhood of San Marino.
I had free time at home, alone
for the first time in months.
I spent it at the computer,
editing NYPD cop stories
for a friend, and playing
Word Racer online.
It was heaven.
The commotion was large
when the girls came home.
I did what I could
to stay out of the way
and help.
During feeding time
my wife told me
she saw a father pitching
his daughter's softball practice
in a French blue work shirt.
There was only a tinge of
'I wish
You
would've gone'
in her voice
but I didn't point it out
because
there was probably
at least a little
'I wish
I
could've been
that guy'
in my eyes
as she told me.
It was Friday
and our four-month old
was tired
and we were tired
from the week and
from our four-month old
but it was Friday
so we worked at
being nice
to each other.
When we gave our
little girl
her bath before bed
she laughed.
Her first real,
open,
hearty,
"this is my laugh,
Mom and Dad,"
style laugh.
She sat in her tiny tub,
smiling,
as usual,
and flat-out laughed.
Her little naked milk belly
jiggled when she giggled
and shook her whole body
up and down in the water.
I will never forget that laugh,
but now I have to change
the kitty litter.
Created 5.16.4
Re-created 1.1.5