Collateral Heart Damage

She was going to Aunt Zella’s

Mom was away at the Lawyer’s

Dad on business in South Korea.

Import-export.

Zella was loaded, sent a Chauffeur.

Inherited husband’s largesse.

Big name Art Dealer.

Debra had a lot to process.

Arguments increasing

Frequency, vigour.

On went her earphones usually.

Or some escapist Sci-Fi novel.

Liked Robert Sawyer the best.

Canadian. Fascinating.

WWW Trilogy for example.

But all around Debra

Was non-fiction, painful, angering.

Parents like the children.

Small triggers in the everyday.

Roles reversed,

Debra felt like some sort

Of Midway Prize.

Big smile, clown-like

Ribbons swirled all around.

Long heirloom dress.

And Both were out of Town.

They were the Clowns.

Nothing but frowns.