The Summer of ‘98-A Short Story

I remember the summer of ‘98 like it was yesterday. The sun was a relentless tyrant, and the air was thick with the smell of cut grass and dusty sneakers. The neighborhood kids, a motley crew of preteens with scraped knees and boundless energy, spent every waking hour playing street soccer in front of old Mr. Atley’s house. He hated us, and we loved the thrill of annoying him. He was the grumpy Goliath, and we were the plucky Davids, a soccer ball our only sling. The best player on the street was Kevin. He was a year older than the rest of us, with a mop of sandy hair and a cocky grin. He was faster, more agile, and had a way of dribbling the ball that made it seem like an extension of his own foot. He knew it, too, and his constant showboating drove me crazy. I was a decent player, but Kevin always found a way to make me look like a clumsy oaf, stealing the ball from me with a quick flick of his ankle or nutmegging me with a cheeky grin. One day, our game intensified. It was just Kevi...

Thanksgiving Cheer

 Thanksgiving is here, an escape provides

A time with family, away from isolation, solitary confinement and distressing of thoughts

Everywhere we turn the news is ugly


The numbers are rising as the death toll is counted

In thousands they say, as the systems in place

So shaken and stretched as cries for help pandemic


2020 brought in its wake recession and depression

Though 2019 to blame

Suicides and deaths all time is high


Greetings and hugging, conversation of catch up

Turkey in season, table talks today

Prayers we say for the few times we stay


May our hearts rejoice in the midst of this turmoil

Grateful for the lives we have and those we saved 

Hard to smile when all the chatter is sadness and despair


Elections came and went, confusion and chaos predicted but alas, not so much was realized

Our souls delight and our hearts be glad 

Birth of a new dawn

A new year is promised


Vaccines are here, almost in time 

Next year is upon us, hopeful we remain

In all things we give thanks as nothing else befit  

To all and sundry thanksgiving cheer we inspire 





Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Hope

Summer by Adel J. Cardor