Robert Cole-Brent Best

hey little man she said open your eyes lift your sleepy head you know tomorrow's your big day here are your clothes she said so I put them on and made the bed and I went outside to play when a sun so huge it shined and it baked the blacktop underneath my toes playing hopscotch on the lines till she howled my name and a shriek it came with a swell of shame of sadness I just froze with a pain I simply can't define yeah and she said I am your mother I told your sister and baby brother your dog Champ and your best friend that your name is Robert Cole and tomorrow you are nine years old but you, you will not walk this road again now your son's heart is fair so I took your words and I kept them there but a young boy's mind is of a different gauge my father's words returned to me from some stormy evening with my mother on her knees my life is mine he swore and raged and he left her there upon the floor I can hear him curse and slam the door yeah and he found me squatting in the dirt and he spoke to me of family and sacrifices unforeseen I'll the change the children worth the work yeah and he said please tell your mother your oldest sister and baby brother your dog Champ and your best friend your name is Robert Cole and tomorrow you are nine years old but you, you will not walk this road again I scanned the yard and house secured no sign of mother's work-worn blouse but for my heart the world was still each foot a heavy load the blacktop baked and burned under my toes around the curve and below the hill and this is the blacktop road that I was not to walk till I was old if Jeani saw me she would snitch and these are the tire tracks that will lead you down and round to where there is a car off in the ditch and I heard the fireman yell this one is smashed and torn to hell and he could not recognize the face and I am my mother's son but now it seems that I've gone off and become the one to take my daddy's place please tell my mother my oldest sister and baby brother my dog Champ and my best friend my name is Robert Cole and tomorrow I am nine years old but I, I will not walk this road again please tell my mother my oldest sister and baby brother my dog Champ and my best friend my name is Robert Cole and tomorrow I am nine years old but I, I will not walk this road again