Muto's Moment #3

A Splash of Tears

I remember the day you lost your shoe
At the side of the pond on the school field trip
Our teachers didn't know what to do
The day that you lost your shoe

It took about thirty seconds
For Mr. Yountz to reach you
And about seven minutes
For your mother to stop screaming

Your wet clothes clung to his cradling arms
As if your life had soaked out into them

I could see your breath
In the winter air
Fragile
Like the push of air from a butterfly's wings

I took off my big black winter coat
And wrapped it around your soaking sweatshirt
I hoped it wasn't like the body bags
I had seen on TV

Then Mr. Yountz ran off
Back to the school bus at the end of the trail

I ran to the rock by the side of the pond
I saw the spot where you had slipped
As you said "Cheese"
On your fifth birthday

I saw your little pink shoe too
The teacher's didn't know what to do

So I cried

We were going to be partners
The very next week
When swimming lessons started

~Greg Halloran