where has the other one gone?

there used to be four of us



she said



she lobbed a pebble in the stream

watched the effect



another replied

he got sick & died



nothing will ever be the same again



water flowed

a bird flew up



third one commented

that he would be missed

that the bed would feel empty



felt bad that he borrowed the shoes without permission

took his money



she remembered how he scuffed his bike

down the path & ate hungry





the heron stood silent opposite on the mud



there are three of them now sat on the log by the stream

only one went to the funeral





the others

sent to school