NEIGHBORS

He is driving now,

Huffing at his mother as he stomps back in the house for whatever it was he forgot.

I cannot resist asking his mother, as I walk by,  if he is the famous artist who at the age of five or six sold his oil paintings of trees from their porch one hot summer- gloppy, green leaves, thick, brown trunks and rigid, yellow rays of sunlight squeezed on the canvass- my favorite hanging to this day in my basement amidst other treasures.

That has been a while, she chuckles, pulling on her sunglasses as she smiles, looking back.

Just when did he grow up?

****

She is tall now,

And winning pageants with her dazzling smile, mile long legs, and elegant demeanor.

I bring out my pictures of her with pigtails and no teeth, recalling how we would sit on my porch having tea parties while waving at her mother from across the street; and how she just knew her daddy would love a silly little dried beef glass with stars around the top she took from the cupboard,  wrapped with paper and ribbon, then ran home to give it him.

Her mother laughs remembering how she “yoved yipstick” at age three, and the color “lello.”

When did she grow up?

And how is it we have not changed?