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TOPPLED TREES STRANDED CARSI was eleven. My job come home from school and take care of my younger sister. Dad a no show alcoholic. Mom had been in two near fatal wrecks. She was afraid to drive even though it was the drunk who wrecked. She took the bus to work. She never made it home two days. I don't remember the last half mile. I was pushing my bike. Somehow I lit the fire. Phones out neighbor let me know they had my sister. No lights, heat from a oil furnace and coal stove. Plywood windows. Still the worst snow storm in history. Five foot drifts. School let out nine thirty in the morning I was eleven and that was exciting My most prized possession my bicycle In soft white snow I was ridding A smart boy like me should have gone home But knowing me you would have known I went to a friends house to phone Phone doesn't work you stay to play His Mom came home what does she say, "Danny there's a blizzard out go home" 40 mile winds five foot drifts did roam She said I could stay but sister was alone Up the hill hard pushing a bike a fool It was a mile from my house to school Some say I should have left the bike behind Snow in my face I was pushing blind Temperature dropping fell twelve degrees Once or twice I fell to my knees But I couldn't stay down or would freeze Hours later I got home Sister wasn't there She stayed a girlfriends house that was fair For once I wasn't afraid to drop the match Under the blankets the heat was unmatched Mom didn't get home at night she was stranded It was two days before the hill all sanded As I read the article the day was special It was Friday the thirteenth nineteen fifty Sons of Norway square dance canceled nifty I had cold tomato soup and a warm red fire When thawed I found my bike had a flat tire Poetry Ad-Free Upgrades Vote for this poem
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