Don't I know You?

Don’t I Know You? – February 2007

It’s been 37 years
And we both said
the other looked great
- that time has
treated us well –
But that’s bullshit
I tried hard to
find that girl
- a glimpse of her –
as we talked
briefly
in front of the Waldenbooks
at the Trumbull mall

We covered all the topics
on the
“Haven’t seen you in ages”
checklist...

spouse – check
kids – check
still in the area – check
work – check

I had to smile
when I finally saw it
There she was
for a second;
The 13-year-old
my first love
and she smiled back
like she knew what I discovered
“Those two kids are so far away,” she said, adding,
"God, I wish I knew where that girl went."

The meeting was brief
She had to leave
to get home
and I had to get back to work
We didn’t bother with the
“Let’s keep in touch” bullshit

So like we did when we both were 13
we moved on
It was nice running into her

And later
I wished I had told her
that the young girl we both knew
way back when
was not so far away
She was still alive
and vibrant
and wearing bell bottoms
and a tank top
and laughing at the silliest things
and hanging out
by the stream
near her parents old house
with a young skinny kid
in long brown hair, torn jeans and t-shits
She may be what keeps that skinny kid alive

That girl never went away, I guess
She always lived
right here
But that’s probably not
what you say
at the mall