How To Come Back Home After a Month Long Trip

Step 1:
Drive into the garage
Trying not to think
About the trip you just had
So you won't be sad that it's over
 
Step 2:
Eat lunch
That's it
 
Step 3:
Sort through all of the mail
That came while you were away
Find your latest report card
See that you've got straight As
Hope you can get into Dartmouth
 
Step 4:
Hug your chickens
Bring them treats
Convince yourself they missed you
 
Step 5:
Make ice cream
With vanilla
And some lavender your mom found in her pocket
 
Step 6:
Unpack
Find stuffy puffin you bought
For your little sister's friend's little sister
And the oddly shaped cup you got from Lego Land
And your new crumpet rings
Sort your books into two piles:
English and German
 
Step 7:
Go to your little sister's friend's house
Present her sister with the stuffy
Hear her mom say that she's glad you're back
That the little sister bugged her to call you every day
Be glad that someone missed you

Step 8:
Eat the icecream
Call your grandmommy
Hear her say she's proud of you
For your terrific report card
Just like you knew she would
Thank her for the book of poetry she sent
 
Step 9:
Listen to youre mom read Little Women
To your sister
Feel as completely relaxed
As you always do when she reads Little Women
 
Step 10:
Take a shower
Put away the laundry
Your mom already maneged to wash
Talk to your mom
Remember the two times today
Someone laughed at something you said
And ask her if they were ok things to say
 
Step 11:
Go to sleep
In your own bed again
Feel like you are transported
Back in time
To age eleven
When you had nothing to worry about
Or if you did
You didn't worry about it anyway
 
Step 12:
Wake up in your own bed
At five AM
Because jet lag
Worry about school
Out of force of habit
Even though it's summer
 
Step 13:
Take a walk
Listen to the birds sing
And the frogs argue
And your former best friend's rooster crow its head off
 
Step 13:
Make pancakes
With your sister
Finally forget
That you're comeing home
From a month long trip