it was some time in the mid 90’s and
i was six,
playing with one of those little plastic phones
when she beckoned me over
to her armchair,
which i was afraid of,
in fear it would swallow me
up like it did her,
but i climbed into her lap anyway and
she smoothed my dress,
held my small hand in her wrinkled one,
closed her eyes and
then opened them
at the last second.
she went still,
looking quite disappointed in herself.