ELEVEN

When we caught a mouse
in the silverware drawer
we set it loose in the woods
and when our well ran dry
we put garbage cans under the gutters
because most things
unlike questions and numbers
don't come in an endless supply.
After baseball practice
over spaghetti and meat sauce at Greg's house
why did his parents have to yell,
"Clean your plate like Aaron, young man!"?
And when will it be over,
I thought, as I watched him
shove his little brother
storm into the kitchen
stalk down the hall
and slam the door to his room
while I silently counted past a million.