Here for the taking

j.a.arrick


She came to see me at lunch time. Slender fingers
reached out over the table as she quietly asked, “I
hope you aren’t allergic to peanut butter.” It stuck
to the top of my mouth.
“I’m not”.

She wore a blue dress with a white sweater. Her red
hair was like a bunch of small slinkies tied at the
top of a cliff. I hid my hair was because it was short and rough.
“Do you like my hat?”

Her eyes said, “I can’t wait to get you home” as they
burned with hope. I could see my brown eyes in her
blue.
“I don’t mean to stare.”

She said, “I have waited my whole life for you to come
along.” I knew it was time and that she was the one.
“Can I call you mom?”