The day after Thanksgiving, I wait for Mom to wake up,
boil hot water for her favorite tea.
Around noon she sweeps into the living room.
She is adorned in purple. She announces
she will stay with us another night and
Can we go shopping downtown?
where she touches everything, like a little girl,
buys chocolate ice cream and sweet tea,
then, back at my house, she giggles
on the phone with a friend.
I nap fitfully. Dutifully
go with her and Dad to dinner and a movie.
Reluctantly bid her goodnight becauseu
she still isn’t tired.
She finds a band holding a ‘40s dance,
parties till nearly midnight
under an almost-full moon.