Stream of consciousness poem -- part 70

Chapter 70

November 29, 2011 – Later morning

We have arrived

At the Charleston VA

There is no parking

But there is a

Valet

I hand

The valet

My keys

And he hands me

My son’s

Rabbit

Hop-Hop

My son

Takes

My brother’s hand

And my brother

Takes

Hop-Hop

We stop

At the Information Desk

To ask for

Directions

To our

Office

The lady

At the desk

Sees my brother

Clutching Hop-Hop

She gives us directions

And says nothing

About the

Rabbit

Another lady --

A volunteer --

Hands my son

A book

It is a

Bright orange book

It is

Green Eggs

And Ham

We find

The waiting room

And

We wait

And

I read

My son

Is entranced by

Green Eggs and Ham

And so is my

Brother

On the television

A discolored game show host

Spins a wheel

His voice

Crackles
And fades

As I keep

Reading

The room

Grows

Quiet

When we

Came into

The waiting room

The sound from the television

Was crackly

Now the sound

Is off

The television

Is mute

I look up

And see

A sea of grizzled faces

Of veterans

Not watching

The television

But us

I keep reading

And everyone

In the room

Listens

When I finish

Reading

My son cheers

And he is not

Alone

My brother

Cheers

And he is not

Alone

Either