Karma, Chameleon

There were piles of cards: birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year--all wrapped up neatly with ribbons. There were dried flowers, old perfume bottles, costume jewelry, hats, gloves, old lace peignoirs, and stuff that I didn't even recognize.

Your kiss lands on her cheek as she rearranges herself on her bed--the beautiful brass bed where you both spent such happy times together...Vivid images appear and go running by your mind faster than the speed of light. Your legs weigh a ton. "Another time maybe," she says looking at the patch of blue summer sky high above her window, "in another life, my love," she whispers to the spruce tree outside.

"Peek a Boo, Daddy," she'd say, hiding herself behind my couch while I read the daily newspaper. I can already hear the pitter-patter of her tiny feet.

My friend gets up to leave. I walk him to the door. He looks much taller than I remember him and very handsome--much more hndsome than any knight I've ever known.