CALL

Gran called Aunt Bee yesterday.

Me and Charlie listened in

on Aunt Bee’s end of the conversation,

even though she tried

real hard to talk soft.

She even turned around

a few times, to make sure

we weren’t there, but she

couldn’t see us from

where she was sitting.

We were there, hiding

behind the candy table,

where Aunt Bee keeps her

chocolate-covered caramels

and her orange wedges

covered in sugar.

And from where we hid

we heard words like addicted

and how long and which facility,

and I don’t know about Charlie,

but now I’m more confused

than ever.

I wish I could have seen

what Aunt Bee drew

on the pad beside the phone,

but she tore it up after

she hung up.