April Fox

It started as one of those where you wonder
was it thunder
or the rumbling in your mind
trying to keep you from sleep
And the wind picks up and drives
tired branches back to life
sweeping bony fingers
along the walls
trying to hang on to leaves
like precious children
Eyes drift closed and the school bus is a shelter
lightning flashing strobes outside the windows
painted hazy from the rain

It falls like pellets at the drop off
saddle shoes are soaked, my corduroys are held fast to my legs, heavy and wet
and I think about the boy in class who uses too much glue. 

My pigtails cry in sheets, rain tears running down 
my back and the sky 
no longer
holds the storm
The thunder echoes through my lungs
and then I'm home. 

Soft towel around my back, gentle arms hug me dry
cozy, warm

This is home again
I wake up safe
again.