Suffocating hot days began long after the sun had come up
With a bowl of cereal, a glass of juice, and a remote.
Great battles were fought and monsters were defeated
While Skillet drowned out the background music.
Evil was vanquished and princesses were saved
All before the peanut butter and jelly reward of lunch.
Batteries were changed to the rhythms of
“Go outside” and “Call your friends”.
Long droning phone calls buzzed in my ear
And friends were like ghosts – heard from, but never seen.
And outside was a mysterious place yet to be unlocked
In the game of Summer, when I was thirteen.