Claire

Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash

It’s been thirty-five years
maybe thirty-six
I doubt many remember
or think about you
but I do.

You came into our lives
as our babysitter
housekeeper really
You were nice and funny
taking care of us
you became the friend
my sister desperately needed
every kid in the neighborhood
coming to you because
you listened in ways
our parents never did.

You stayed with Mr. Jim
far too long for all the reasons
women put up with
abusive boyfriends or husbands
mister-motherfucking-Jim
with his three ex-wives
no money for alimony
or child support
but hey, look at that
cherry red Ford Mustang
three horses and
shotgun collection.
He called the police
to his own apartment
because we were making
too much noise
during a sleepover.