---

 

This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN#/ISBN# issue/book “Ticket to Paradise” cc&d, v298 (the June 2020 27-year anniversary issue) Order the 6"x9" paperback book:

Order this writing in the book One with the Mountain the cc&d May-Aug. 2020 magazine issues collection book		get the 426 page May-Aug. 2020 cc&d magazine 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book:

Order this writing in the book inside the box the 2020 poetry & art collection anthology		get the 262 page poetry & artwork & photography collection anthology as a 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book:

Balance 1

James B. Nicola

You learn things from the most unlikely people
in stages, and in ways you don’t expect.
There was this snot-nosed kid who got me all
riled up for no good reason. I was six,
I think, and in the schoolyard, by the swings.
Which one of us spoke first and who said what
is up for grabs too. All I know is that

there
was this
snot-nosed kid

who’d never spoken to me before and pointed
at my face, and started laughing, no, more like giggling,
and I was about to do something about it, and rolling up my sleeves,

when the bell rang.
It was Friday.
I cooled down

over the weekend. And Monday, I hung around
the jungle gym at the other side of the field,
and for the rest of that year. But next September
on the first day, guess what, that very same snot-nosed kid
was right there sitting next to me. Hoo was I

mad

and ready to tear the place up, and the year
hadn’t even started yet. But just before
I got my sleeves rolled up, guess what, I heard,
“Hello” and saw the biggest smile I ever.
Then “here,” and guess who handed me a tissue.
Well now we have three kids. The oldest starts
next week. This summer they redid the playground,
so showing them where we first met didn’t quite
cut the mustard. But the softball diamond’s
got Astroturf^®, the jungle gyms are padded,
and we don’t catch colds like we used to, which,
the “snot-nosed kid” assures me, after I strap
in our youngest and apply a moist towelette
and kiss her on the nose, make up for the loss.
The back seat’s hoo-boy loud and wonderful.

Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.

Problems with this page? Then deal with it...