On Growing Up

Parties were for laser tag,

where my brother and I would team up,

or trampoline parks

but I swear I didn't cheat in Dodgeball

Dates were for soccer tournaments

or playdates with my best friends

The ghost was in the graveyard,

flickering flashlight

in the gentle darkness

Our laughter knew no deadline,

held no burden

Money was cash in mom's purse

which she does Office to get

(sometimes even does Airplane!)

While I was living lightly

as a backpack with only

an iPad & Ben-10 lunchbox

The engine room

of the office burned

on reams of colors

John started smoking, Brendan

moved schools, and Alex stopped

talking to me

"Welcome," he said as I walked in,

skin blue, the only light

in the room

"This is where the grownups live"

and he gestures at the cubicles

which extend infinitely

towards the horizon,

I saw dad

or was it grandpa–

gray worker

knew I had it coming

"Pick an empty desk."