Marathon Man
there was
something
about him
that drew me over
alone in the corner
backlit by window rays
turned out
he lived
three doors down
his wife had long since died
his kids had their own lives
so, for social interaction
he’d go sit in a circle
somewhere at some senior center
and since he lived
three doors down
he asked me
to come visit him
sometime
so, I did
the house looked like
a woman lived there
like she’d be home soon
and there were photos
of him and her
everywhere
and I watched him
pour cat food in a bowl
and admired his medals
trophies and plaques
for he had run
and won
many, many marathons
but his body betrayed him
so went his mind
and one day
I saw him out my window
walking
and stopping
down the sidewalk
he was three doors down
but had forgotten
how to get there
and then suddenly
somebody in a truck
like his son or son-in-law or something
got him home
and next thing I knew
he was gone
knocked on the door
but nobody answered
and the neighbor hollered over the fence
that he was gone
that his family thought it best
to move him
and just like that
his black cat became somebody else’s pet
and his medals no longer shined
darkened in a box
and all those photos
of him and her
taken down
a “For Sale” sign
put up
and a newly married couple
still in the blush
of bright beginnings
moved in
with all their things
TL