Skates
As my shift was wrapping up, about a quarter to four
The last day of summer, working at the sporting goods store
A man walked through the door, looking haggard and worn
Bloodshot eyes, unshaven, his clothes were tattered and torn
I watched him pace slowly, as he swept through the aisles
Raised his head to look at me, our eyes met, so I smiled
But he looked right past me, his walk picked up in pace
I turned to look, he was headed for the wall with the skates
It was strange, so I asked, “Getting a jump on the season?”
He said, “I want your best pair,” but didn’t offer a reason
He turned his head to me, and there was nothing in his eyes
Stunned, I stepped back, said, “I’ll go look for your size”
And while in the back, I couldn’t shake that empty stare
Just glad he didn’t look like he would try on twenty pairs
I brought them out, and saw his eyes glisten and shine
It was awkward, so I looked down and pitched him a line
“These are our top model, they’re guaranteed to last a life.
They’ve got rust-resistant blades, custom back and sides.
Now they’re a bit pricey, but the laces get tossed in.”
He took the box and said, “I don’t care what the cost is”
He looked exhausted, then he turned to pass me by
I touched his shoulder, and said, “I just have to ask you, ‘Why?’”
He swallowed hard, his adam’s apple shook in his throat
His eyes came up and met mine, said, “They’re my only hope.
My wife was in our yard. Behind our house there is a river,
I heard her scream for help…” and his lip began to quiver
“I ran as fast as I could, but the water took her in…”
I saw his body tremble… he sobbed, “I couldn’t swim.
So now…. I will wait until the weather gets colder
And the river behind our home eventually freezes over”
A tear fell down his cheek, he let out a saddened groan,
“And I will skate as far as it takes... to bring her back home.”
I fell into a chair, as he walked up to the cash
My eyes fell on the clock, and I saw it was quarter past
and today his memory is not easily swept aside
that day, I saw the fullness of love in a pair of empty eyes.
This post was edited by Boxa on Apr 2 2009 07:29am