The woman down the road
Had a grandson my age,
And another in my brother’s grade.
The three boys of our family
Would play in the sand
with the two boys of that family.
As Cub Scouts
We had to raise money for our pack
By selling candies, popcorn, and Christmas ornaments.
I was horrified when
The grandmother answered the door
Invited me in
And looked over my wares
As I tried not to stare, but could not look away
at the goiter the size of a tangerine on her throat.
Once my orders were turned in
to my scout master
I worked myself up
Into an anxiety
For the day I would have to
Fulfill the order
Of a kind woman
Who had to hold a vibration box
To her neck
In order to thank me
For the chocolates she would eat
With her family at Christmas.