Come Out Come Out Where Ever You Are

I can smell their fear They head toward me in a mob Screaming that I have to be one of them I get small and tight, fitting into a shoebox The box is kicked high into the air My Uncle Dave laughs. He may be the worst of them I land behind a dumpster without my lid We will find you! My grandfather screams. Without seeing him, I know he is wearing overalls. And white socks with work boots. I am glad he was not the box kicker Come out! Come out! Where ever you are! They are chanting now. I stay still, trying not to breathe. My cousin Sam sees me and winks. She is wise. Knows that they can never do more to punish me than I will do to myself. She misdirects them to an open field. The hair stands on the back of my neck, I feel shivers down my spine, Wondering if the punishing has begun.