The Claim Jumper

a young man
plump and jovial
his Granny would pick us up from school
in an ancient car, a Kaiser jeep?
with a middle-aged guy
who was he, her son?
so long ago
the first mystery in my life
still unsolved
where we went, I hardly recall
they dropped me off near my home?
I never saw where they lived
Stanley was a big kid
his head wasn't screwed on right
the bridge that crossed the parkway
was built for the school kids
we'd peer down over wall edge
cars buzzing by
like mosquitos on a hot summer evening
there wasn't a fence above us
why did Stanley climb up the sidewall?
jump off the bridge into the parkway
breaking his leg in the 30 footfall?
we never saw Stanley again
I taught there 15 years later
the same Principle's was in charge
I asked, "What happened?"
he thought the boy survived

a month ago
I was approached by a burly homeless
Would you like some fun?
he pointed at a woman
big breasted, hair unkempt
the look of a drug addict
She lowered her blouse
Her nipples were very thick
"No, thank you"
I turned to leave, a fist grabbed my coat
"Don't I know you?"
I don't think so?
Webster Elementry, ring a bell?
"Yes, I went there"
"T'was you who pushed me off the bridge"
"Oh no, you are quite mistaken"
He shoved me, I fell backward
off the curb into dirty water
"Granny said you were the one"
He kicked me hard in the chest and walked away
His arm around the whore
who lifted up her flowered dress and mooned me
I was surprised how beautiful her ass was