November 2017 Ezine Wordplay at Work Issue 49

stepfather __________Annette LeBox is shouting, “Big ears big ears,” i say i don't care about the words think he’s silly, he’s grownup and grownups don’t act that way but i think about his mouth a twisted rusty spring that could tear your flesh and his eyes are bulgy like those cats’ eyes marbles and i wonder if this time he will hit me and dare him with my chin and he wants to oh he wants to curls his fist almost grazes my cheek his hand shaking, “Little twerp, goddamn little twerp,” and my mother watches from a dark corner her nine-year-old wunderkind who believes she can save the kingdom: forty years later, before the man you'd die for leaves you your crybaby heart whimpers, “Big ears, big ears, big ears.”