accident 6/03/10

it was a random weekend day
before the divorce
but maybe not before you
started thinking about it,

we were out as a family
for a day on the intercoastal
in your small, secondhand boat
you were so proud of.

mom was elsewhere at the moment
probably dealing with little brother
i was alone with you
and your friends
and in front of them
in response to some
stupid, childish
11 year-old thing i said
you told me--
a smile on your face
but with hard, cold eyes--
“you were an accident.”

©2010-Art Belliveau