Steve Denehan, “No School

No School

Steve Denehan

All the schools were closed except one I was woken beautifully by her singing A little bird in her room

This day, a gift that we unwrapped together our frenzied running to the car to escape the lava we made it, just our car ride a symphony of awful singing

The grocery shop was open for us alone in earnest we looked for the perfect orange the lemoniest lemon and eventually we found them

Her laughing echoed in the cavernous toy shop With a little of her savings she bought a notebook to keep her secret thoughts

Entering the cinema foyer she tugged at my sleeve I looked down “What’s wrong?” a teary smile “Happy tears.”

We sat in darkness alone not alone the rustle of papers the slurp of drinks the light from her eyes 78.

The journey home my favourite part She tells me that this this day of small things has been the best day of her life I remind her of her birthdays all six of them I remind her of Christmas magic of Easter eggs of Pancake Tuesdays her saucer-sized eyes as our plane left the runway

She is still, she ponders seconds tick by she agrees there have been better days but they were not today.