Several summers ago
we rode our bikes around the cul-de-sac
Our wheels would jump off the cracked pavement
For a moment, we were gloriously airborne
There was a girl in pink ribbon pigtails
that matched the flying tassels on her trike
A boy with bandages on his bruised knees
and then there was me
and you
You wanted to race
around the entire cul-de-sac
Whoever won got the candy bar
sitting in your icebox
a cool reward for this grueling day
Determined, you got the head start
I was close
with Pigtails and Bandages not too far behind
But the race came to an unfortunate stop
Next thing I knew, your tire snagged on
an elevated crack
You flew face first into the boiling pavement,
and your mouth bloomed red
Your front tooth emerged free
After that, you did not smile that much anymore
Your bike grew dusty in the garage
I have not heard from Pigtails or Bandages
And still, no one has bothered to fix the pavement in the cul-de-sac