The Meeting

Even with all these worries

swirling in my head,

I coast down into the town.

Around Main Street,

people are already everywhere.

I see my grandfather

through the shop window,

already back from synagogue,

a pile of books on his workbench,

but he’s not alone. My father is there

in his Will Clark jersey and Giants hat,

his hands folded,

shoulders hunched,

like he always tells

me NOT to do.

 

 

I wait outside.

They are arguing.

My father moves

around the workbench,

his voice loud, muffled

through the window.

My grandfather

stands at his full height.

Most of the time he’s

soft, bent over.

I forget

just how big

he actually is.