After a little while, two full pages in the notebook
are filled with tic-tac-toe games
that neither of us has won.
I lean my head against the doorway
so I can see a little more,
but the more I lean,
the more she retreats to her side.
I know I should get going.
The road is filled with fog.
I remember my flashlight
in my backpack for the walk home.
I look over to the road.
Fine, she says. But you BETTER
come back tomorrow. I nod.
I wonder if Mrs. Li will need me
for another delivery?
I feel the words wanting to jump from my mouth.
I want to ask her if I can bring her something,
but I can’t find the words, so I just smile.
She gets up, and so do I.
And almost like
she’s read my mind,
she says,
Goodbye, Etan the artist.
Please bring me a pumpkin
if you can.
And for a moment
I see half of her face smiling,
as she closes the door.