Bright Boy
The small t-shirt on his even smaller torso
says Look at the Bright Side.
Cocked to one side like a beret
rests a blue bicycle helmet.
He sits on top of a yellow truck,
feet pushing to move him forward
until a large step looms.
He stands,
legs on either side of the truck
and lifts.
Then looks around.
Lifts and looks around.
Lifts and looks around.
He swings one leg over the truck,
pulls down his shorts,
squats, and pees a child size puddle.
A man offers help to lift the truck,
but bright boy pushes him away.
He wipes his hands
across the front of his t-shirt.
Then with shiny eyes
hoists the truck at last
up the imposing step.
A silent fanfare rises inside.
How comfortably his t-shirt
sits upon his chest
while his blue helmet protects
the bright side of fresh sensibility.
First published in Pangolin Review May 8, 2019