The Tiny Bottle

It was from the cruise ship gift shop— he never left the boat.

Loop-de-Loops

Kid laws are far different from adult laws. Mix the two, and that’s called trauma.

But I never forgot that warning sound, how it chilled my blood, and how I froze like prey to it.

My ornament hung proud from a string where she was pinned to dry.

I learned there are different ways to bring warmth in when there is no light.

Soon enough he had me shaking that magic globe, spilling out questions faster than I could accept its answers.

Only once did he ever throw a dollar coin in, and that was a moment.

Just be you, kid. Momma’s got you covered.

Learned to pop popcorn without letting it burn from one of those old-time popcorn carts with the glass sides and the metal kettle suspended inside.

Or perhaps it is simply words that inspire and stir in the quiet between you and I.