Animal Crackers at Midnight by Laura Rumsey

Animal Crackers at Midnight

by Laura Rumsey

.

12:17. Bright green lights blurt out the

time-

It's dark outside

but warm and calm in here,

with the glow of life still softly stirring,

and it begins slowly at first...

The mind, mindless munching,

The constant, cringing crunching,

The sweet and salty, steady scrunching

of the tiny, tan crumbs

of little elephants and rhinos

spilling softly onto the bed.

I say nothing-

ears throbbing

teeth crunching,

mouth watering-

I say nothing

And observe that she is eating crackers.

She's eating my animal crackers.