Ducks In a Row

we paraded behind him he in a fawn casual jacket military badge right breast pocket over a maroon v neck cardigan even in summer dark blue trousers sharp crease hands behind back hair neatly slicked down - stiffly upright me next aged 7 gray flannel shorts gray slipover clunky brown lace up shoes newly scrubbed eyes round as saucers mum last head down brown slacks white blouse sandy blond vacantly beautiful I would keep turning to look back at mums place mum had a place last was here place not wanting to fall back trying to keep up with long striding dad occasionally trying to get in front the sharp knuckled rap on my head from an unyielding god people looked at us ***** as we marched down the road all the way to the park to sit on a bench dad on one side me in the middle mum at the end sitting silent pigeons drew near seeking breadcrumbs we had no bread crumbs when it was time (dad always decided) we stood up then filed back home to listen to the radio listening dad nearest to the set nothing to say me on the floor fidgeting mum in the kitchen fading away