I’m ready

in ten minutes

or something like that

meet Dad in the

driveway where the engine is running

for effect even though he was

threatening that by now he

would have left me

I scoot into the back seat

our eyes meeting in the rearview

after the rush, my heart pounding

through my t-shirt

his hands let go of the steering wheel

and move to his lap as he utters

let us pray