Unexpected Deep Connection

As the four year old boy and I played freely
In my dirty, colorful room, 
He suggests that we pretend to play a "gun game"
My body cringes, thinking of horrifying gunshots
Flying across that dreadful danger of death
Knowing it was weapon free and painless, 
I say to Owen, "Okay, but only for a few minutes." 

As I pretend to make inappropriate noises and battle gunshots, 
Owen says, "Boom! You're dead!"
I freely fall backwards on my soft, skinny, old bed, 
I expand my eight-year-old body like a flying angel, 
Feeling completely free to daydream
Footsteps slowly tip-toe towards my bed
And I get butterflies in my stomach, 
Thinking about what Owen would do to me
He stops, sits on the edge of my skinny bed beside me, 
Then leans over towards my face, 
Touches my warm, smooth cheeks with his young, dirty hands
He calls my name, pretending to see if I'm alive
He asks this twice, 
Whispers "I love you" in my delicate ear, 
And our soft lips meet to an unexpected love kiss
A huge rush of love and young energy spread throughout my body, and 
I was in heaven

I open my eyes, pretending to come back to life
And give him into my arms
Whispering into his small ear, "I love you too"
Then the game was over
My first kiss will be remembered


Written at 2/4/02
Copyright 2002 Molly Zaloudek. All Rights Reserved.