Dinner at seven

hey son

i called yesterday

spoke to the answering machine

for quite awhile

it's pretty much like

you

in a way

you both don't talk much

anyway

i'm free tonight

maybe dinner

hope you'll find it fine

just say you'll come

alright

french

chinese

or sushi

maybe a simple cheese and macaroni

you name it

you'll get it

hey son-

yeah dad, i'll be there

whatever dinner is

ok

i'll be there

great! be there by seven

and if you have forgotten

it's havelock avenue street eleven

back in some winding alley

six figures stay hunched

against their gateway car

having whisky and lunch

"tonight

we get that boy zack

he got our man dan

so we get him back

we know where he lives

for sure

but this even better

 his old man's just down

this corner

Annaliese just got back to us

He's visitin tonight

And we're gonna make sure

it's the last time he getsta visit

and the first time

he getsta know

what is pain"

anna baby

i'm going off

to

my dad's place

he's gone wack

calling me eery ticking second

as if

he's gonna die

the minute

he take the phone

off his hand

sure zack honey

be back soon

yeah i'll miss you

the door swings close

to a shut

zack's footsteps

thud against

the dull flooring

outside.

anna

the

babe, baby, honey pie, sweetheart

calls a private number

on her cell

"he's on the way there

NOW

make him pay

a life for a life

and show him what's hell

for danny

your brother

our leader

and the love of my life

make him corrote 

in his acid droplets 

of tears

that will come"

the damp air 

fizzled 

with her

relieving tears

inside.

"Yes george

my son's coming

home

tonight!

he's the fuel

to the burning flame

of my pride

oh my son

has grown up fine

look

it's ten minutes

to seven

gotta go old guy

catch you soon

yeah see ya in heaven"

a hacking cough

a droplet of scarlet

spills into

the tomato soup

he's made

2nd stage

doctors said

laughter.

a man's gotta go

when a man's gotta go

the musical melody

fills his ears

clear to him

despite

decades of heardened

hearing

a craggy old smile

forms on his face

etched on

his aged face

he ambles

towards

the expectant doorway

pulls the knob-

an opening appears-

a force!

that is not his boy zack!

hidden by the night

has barged through!

A force

that is not his boy zack!

a dull thud on his head

penetrates

his soft skull

and

there is blood

dribbling down his belly

then nothing.

zack steps through

into the light

sheds his heavy coat.

wait.

NO

NO NO

NO NO NO

what have they set

here

a trail

of red steps

on the carpet

leading

to this monstrous sight

NO

breathe

please

open your eyes

please, old guy

please, not like this

don't leave

like this

they bombard

his father's pale face,

his tears

and they find

a slip

of maroon stained

paper

"with love,

Annaliese"

image from http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/x/xa/xaler/624505_blood_stained_shirt.jpg