Tasty Top (5.22.18)

Another piece about my late grandmother. This piece is reflective of the summer visits I used to have with her. We shared a love of ice cream!

The hot July air is making us sweat

On the screen porch you were so proud of

Used to write to me about it

We sit and read

At your wire table

In the stiff chairs

You, a book of poetry

And me, the Best of Calvin and Hobbes.

You are straight out of an L.L. Bean catalogue

The velcro sandals

Khaki shorts to your knees

And a plain blue t-shirt

Pima cotton, of course.

Cookie lies at your feet

Her pointy nose on the warm wooden floor

Mouth wide open

She pants rhythmically.

It is quiet and peaceful

Just how you like it

I am scared to say a thing

For fear of ruining the beauty

Of nothing being said

You sigh and break the silence

Look at me

“Ice cream?”

We load into your subaru

Loyal since 2003

Drive five minutes

To your favourite spot

The Tasty Top Ice Cream Shop

Like a locally owned dairy queen

The little shack stands on the side of the road

Accompanied by a handful of picnic tables

We get cups over cones

Not wanting to risk a spill

We already know our ice cream preferences

I get chocolate.  

You get coffee

We sit on the green wooden picnic table

Quietly eating our ice cream

With our plastic spoons

You look at me

And I look at you

I wish I knew then

It would be the last time we’d spend

Together, just us two.