Commuter

Stretch and a yawwwwwnnnn

Bathroom for pee and a shower

She's already making breakfast in the kitchen

Kids are getting dressed

Get out, towel off, shave, put on work clothes

Rally round the table a few moments together

Kiss her goodbye 

The carpool has come to pick up the kids

Get in the car 

Rush hour is waiting

What will the radio be saying today?

At the end of the day.

The sound of two boys running

echoed loudly through the room

of adults standing in line.

One woman worked the counter.

A mutual impatience filled our lungs.

The boys father told them

to sit down, be quiet.

They did no such thing.

His uniform was as exhausted

as his face. Only empty threats

remained as the children's voices

echoed farther and farther

into the minds of those listening.