Jax and Ralph
Two carnies
Eighteen small town county fairs
Six furiously hot summer days.
Jax , boisterously handsome, kept the women entertained,
While Grandpa Ralph picked items out of their diaper bags and purses.
If he had any conscience at all, he would say “no thank you to their tips”,
But he had been taught by the best, and he liked carrying their things.
Busy mamas buying their children cotton candy, funnel cakes,
And carnival ride tickets would not notice the theft
until the carnival had moved out.
Busy mamas reading their texts,
comparing each other’s quilts and jams, laughing.
Ralph was proud of Jax, but jealous too.
He had been the young buck, in his day.
Another fair or two, and they would have enough stolen goods
to survive well for the next six months.
He watched his protégé’, under the blinking rainbow lights of the Tilt-a-Whirl,
Plotting the best way to rid himself of this young, handsome interloper.
Reminding himself that he was actually a step-grandfather.
Jax gave his grandpa a quick nod. He planned to give him a terrific time tonight, knowing it would be his last one…..
Written Feb 22, 2019
Contest: At the Fair Sponsor: Julia Ward
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