the old man kept talking in past tense, I’ve been to Japan….been to Sweeden….hell…I’ve been all over the world, an arrogance spewed…

I was an Eagle Scout don’t you know, he stoically said, Got that at fifteen, another boast..

Your mom was proud of me, he said, She was sure proud….met her  when I was twenty…..she was eighteen….robbed the cradle, he smiled….ran brittle fingers through thin gray..

Boy I miss her….ugh….I really miss her…….(pause)…Did I tell ya’ I been to Sweeden…..