You said we needed milk.

We went to Red’s on Brayton Ave.

I asked if I could go in with you.

“No,” you said. “I’ll be quick,” you said.

You weren’t quick.

You came back and went to the back of the van with a bag.

The bag was brown.

Brown?

They put the milk in plastic bags.

I think I like plastic bags.

“What if I cut and taped all the plastic Shaws bags together, I could make the longest bag in the world. Maybe even make the Guinness Book of World Records!”

You laughed, it was hearty and deep. I always loved your laugh.

Bubble Land 

A bottle of bubbles, a wand, warm weather.

The backyard turned into – BUBBLE LAND.

Everything faded out of focus.

No one and no thing was there except me and my bubbles.

I would scream and yell with sheer delight, imagining myself as Glenda floating away to Oz.

I drank the bottle of bubbles when you weren’t looking.

Snow Crystals

We sat underneath the great, green bush next to the house.

When it was covered in snow, it became an igloo that just you and I could fit in.

We were warm, insulated by the snow, our snowsuits, and each other.

You called it our magical cave of crystals.

We sat there for hours,

staring at the icicles twinkling in the bright winter sun,

plucking them from the branches,

and licking them.

Sometimes you would munch on one like a carrot,

Or pretend it was a piece of quartz,

Or just hold it in your hand.

Sometimes when it snows, I close my eyes and I am there with you again.

I think you are a magical cave of crystals.

Almacs

Last night I dreamt we went to Almacs, the grocery store not the diner.

We were going to get Eclipse strawberry syrup for frappes.

When the automatic door opened, we were pulled straight through the threshold

– like a vacuum cleaner pulling dirt out of a rug.

When we reached the other side, we were floating in outer space and there were stars all around us.

I looked at you and said, “This is what Heaven is”.

Funeral Shoes

Me and Uncle David were standing outside of KMart, waiting for Auntie Cheryl and Megan to get back from buying shoes for dad’s funeral.

He looked down at the pavement, the two of us leaning against his car.

I just want to tell you-

In case anyone says anything to you-

I need you to know-

Your dad didn’t die from alcohol.

IT

WAS

SOMETHING

ELSE.