Sweet Lucy 79' GTO

It's 4 am coffee brewing.
 Dad gets up before going
 to work.
 Gray shirt,
 Flannel shirt,
 Khaki pants.

 Wake up.
 Race down stairs.
 Look outside the kitchen
 window.
 Light goes on.

 In the garage I see you
 drinking coffee like red bull.
 Tinkering away on that old
 beater. Turning into a mad
 scientist under the hood of
 sweet o Lucy 79' GTO.

 Oil filter,
 Gaskets,
 Spark plugs,
 Timing belt.

 Radio tunes on the down low.
 All worth it as you hummed.
 To make it come back to life.
 Your very own Frankenstein.
 monster.
 
 To live once again. Living the
 glory days in it's prime. Tweaked
 and tighten each bolt as I sat on
 the porch steps as I watched you.

 Getting it ready to prowl the
 streets like a mighty lion ready
 to attack. Those that defy its
 shade of blue.

 Dropping that hood. All is good
 Turning that key. Hearing
 Lucy that sweet '79 GTO roar.

 Walking away hands full of
 grease. Wipes them off like a
 master surgeon.
 I am just at awe as he pats me on
 the shoulder and says. "Ready for
 school."

 Let's let Lucy out of her cage.
 Driving down the streets you can
 hear her make the ground tremble.

 Turning heads as we go. Hitting
 the gas pedal making her growl.
 You can't contain his smile.
 Turning on the radio to set the
 mood.

 Looks at me in the passenger
 seat as if he won the lotto.
 That '79 GTO never let my father's
 spirits down. Dropping me off at
 school. School bell rings. Race
 outside to find my dad leaning on
 the side of Sweet Lucy like James
 Dean waiting to take me to Dairy
 Queen.

 Drove it all through summer.
 Till one day. In the end of August.
 Sweet Lucy was stolen from the
 drive way.
 So many restless nights he tossed
 and turned. Ran out into the
 garage to see if it was just a dream.

 Only to find an empty grease spot
 where she slept. Days went by.
 Till one day.  In the fall.
 He got a call.
 
They had found sweet Lucy.
Wrapped around a big oak tree.
Head smashed antifreeze
bleeding. All for a joy ride.

 Sitting in the squad car I would watch
 as he made his way. Ran his hand across
 her mane like a long lost pup. Took Lucy
 back in a stretcher. Road all the way
 silent. Days and nights tried to salvage.
 Had no choice but, to put her down.

 A sudden mix of emotions filled his head.
 My father was never the same.
Although he smiled to hide away the
tears. I can see his eyes start to wonder away.
 Kept imagining her outside the window.
 
 Underneath the covers. In the winter snow
 Years went by. He took other projects and chores. Until she eventually faded away.
 Till one day. I was reaching for my baseball
 glove.

 On top a cherry wood dresser. I had
 step on one of the dressers drawers and broked off. Brought a pile of boxes on top
of me.

  Dazed for the moment. Not knowing the
 out come. Came to my senses. Head aching.
 Tucked away in a empty shoe box. I found
 her underneath a pile of Motor Trend
 magazines and a pair of racing gloves. A
 photograph of Sweet Lucy '79 GTO.

 Turned away to a sudden grunt. Saw my dad
 standing at the door. Arms folded and
 shocked of the mess I made but, before he
 spoke looked towards
 my hand holding the photograph of Sweet
 Lucy. Looked at me not a single word helped me up put his arm around me.
Brought an instant smile....That '79
 will live on in our hearts. As we made our way he turned off the light and closed the door.


                            -X.barajas