it’s another
text message

this one says my grandma’s in the hospital
she’s fallen and she broke her hip
they’re not sure how severe it is
they’re not sure if they need to move her
they’re sure that she needs surgery
though
and also
how long will it be
till you get home?

I read the message
three or four times, trying
to make sure I got it all

grandma, broken hip,
hospital, when will
you be home?

an hour or so
I reply
after I finish eating
and pay for everyone
and all that

okay,
drive safe,
my mother replies
back

so it’s a another problem
add it to the list
and let it hang
there
like all the others
I’ve put off and avoided
this one is the least
of my
worries

I put the phone down
look around the room
a few stare at me
the rest continue talking
to each other in the dark
as there’s no need to notice
what cannot
be helped

it’s just my grandma
I tell them
she had a fall
broke a hip
she’s in the hospital

they reply with the typical comforts
and I wave them off
saying she’ll be fine
she’ll be fine
I’m sure she’ll be
fine

and that’s it
I sit around for a while
finish my dinner
pay for everyone
take the check
walk back to my car
and drive home

I call my mother on the way
and she tells me to just go home
take care of your sister
and the dog
she says
get some milk
if you could
too
and I say
okay,
I will
but it turns out that
publix clothes after midnight
on Saturdays

arriving home is simple enough
I walk in the door but
don’t bother locking it
because my grandma’s in the hospital
and she’s the only one who ever
cared

my sister asks me what I know
and it’s nothing more than she does
so she goes back up to her room
and goes to bed like I suggest
and then I’ve come up to my room
and have been sitting with myself
and writing this poem

I’m tired
and don’t have the patience
for another problem right now

I’m going to bed!
I declare to no one
and go crawl beneath the covers
as the darkness welcomes me
to sleep once again