To Be a Son

Blue and black blur as the football spirals through the air, 

My hands outstretched, 

The ball tumbling closer and closer. 

I drop it. 

I look at my dad, 

His hands extended toward the heavens. 

“You’re wasting my throws!” 

I paw the ball resting on the ground, 

Smacking it between my open palms. 

Shaking my head, I toss it back 

“Never again!” 

~

The two of us stride through the sweeping path,

Stepping in sync,

Swiftly surging with surprising speed.

Before us, the thick trunk of a tree lays to rest.

He glances at me,

Uttering a feeble challenge.

“I bet you can’t jump it.”

I snicker, then speed up.

In a tragically ungraceful bound,

I clip my foot on the top, falling face-first into the ground.

“Never again.”

~

Arms crossed, standing on the other side of the island,

He eyes a math test, slumps in sorrow. 

Big red X’s slash through nearly every answer.

He shakes his head,

More in confusion than anger,

Finally breaking his silence.

“All good kiddo, don’t dwell on it.”

I dip my head.

Damn,

I thought I had this one.

“Never again…” 

~

We rest on the cool bench

Beneath a symphony of warm colors—

Orange cascading into pink, then falling into purple.

We catch our breath.

The rush was worth the view.

Nothing beats this. 

“Maybe we don’t leave 5 minutes before sunset.”

I chuckle,

Settling into the bench,

Still taking in the view.

“Yeah, never again.”