the dragon

it had been years away from home

and I trailed behind you through the faded grocery store parking lot

your hand was strong yet frail as you took my hand and we

crossed the dusty asphalt, and I hopped from patch to patch

skipping over the spiderweb cracks

the laces on my hannah montana shoes were short and frayed

silver streaks feebly glimmering over sickly pink patterning

today it was dim and nearly drizzling

but my eyes glistened with a hungry reminiscence

and my thoughts were scrambled, dreamlike

memories of bright eyes and empty heads and youthful cheer

wistfully eyeing the cotton candy clouds hanging from stalls

in their thin plastic bags

tempting me, as if with one bite I should dissolve or

evaporate and become a soft pink cloud in the sky

and I was back in the warmth with careless laughter echoing through my bones and

the sun filtering through red and white canvas tents and the wind riffling through my too-short hair

behind closed lids the hologram of skinned knees and dunking booths

tasted sweeter than those cotton candy clouds I was never allowed to have

today the air was flat as I accidentally stepped on the back of your shoe and

snapped out of my reverie, a sickness spreading through my blood

replacing the hunger in my stomach with dismay

as you snapped back at me and I recoiled with fear, contrite

still we trudged ahead through the noiseless stalls

footsteps crunching to the rhythm of the laughter that was

noticeably missing, and I wondered who stole it

and then from the corner of my eye, a hint

of green, and I looked up in awe as the hunger once more tickled me impatiently

the dragon, with a grin once majestic and proud

leered down at me, perched on wheels rusting from disuse

and I was lost to a summoning impossible to resist as I let go of your hand

green scales once bright were today the color of wilting leaves

in my head echoed screams of joy

veins fizzing with vertigo and arteries of molten honey, a heart full

you approached soundlessly behind me and I turned

catching the tension in the straightness of your back

you looked up at the man behind the fence

and reached into your pocket, hand just barely shaking as you held out the price

three crisp dollars

your face was pale and I knew they were your last

for on your forehead I saw the invisible fluorescent paint

spelling out “UNEMPLOYMENT”

tugging at your shirt I begged you to take us away from here

your words were hushed and unwavering

don’t worry, you said

your voice reassured me but your eyes screamed forgiveness

I complained of a fabricated stomachache

it’s just a silly rollercoaster I said dad,

let’s go home.

as we turned our backs on the old carnival

I lifted my chin and tried to match my pace with yours

the air was cold and you were tall beside me

I took your hand

and it was warm