How I Spent Summer of 1964

The summer of 1964 I spend in a tree with cats Reading Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew Discovering Agatha Christie While I spy on the neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Dellabetta are in their nineties. Their voices are raised, they argue in Italian. We do not understand the words, but we get the inflections. I keep my face down on my book, pretending to read a page. The women are outside hanging up the wash. It must be 10:00. That’s when they all head out there So they can chat and laugh while they pin shirts to their lines. Mrs. McWhirter is the only one who brings out giant panties. Mom’s laughter comes up to me, and I smile. She loves chatting with the hens of the neighborhood. The cats are yawning, wanting a nap. Nothing is holding you here, I tell them but they will not leave.