My brother has the social awareness of a tweeter at church
So this was not going to be easy, and it wasn't
"I will repeat" I slammed "That can't be dad, I went to his funeral"
"Did you see those albino deer, two of them!"
"Pete, don't you think that's strange he looks 73 again, but he should be 99"
Pete focused and I could see him straining to rewind the dialogue
"Hey, I wasn't supposed to live 40 and look at me, nearing 60"
This was true and a fine excuse for the lack of focus and manners
Doctors had gently assured him that Marfans victims rarely make it past 40
We walked with our fishing poles held like rifles at parade rest, but why weren't we driving
Before I could ponder that, a weightier question ripped my mind away
"I don't recall them saying any thing, dad just smoked his pipe
And mom was making beds"
A misty strangeness blanketed the bank where the row boat was tied
"Why are we doing this" I asked "Remember they poisoned all the fish"
Pete was peeling off his shirt, as much as I tried I could never
Ignore the hollowness of his chest
I followed suit and we waded into the toxic water