GHOULS

we wondered if
the child knew he
looked like a ghoul as he
sat on the bleachers at
pinnacle peak while a wild
west with slapstick thrilled the
audience – with gunshots and
a barrel that leaked. we learned
later the kid was with a
whole ghoulish trope who
dropped by in a hearse to
sell their parties – (yet) that
did not stop the
audience from
staring – or whispered
titters pointed fingers at the
child – glaring flashbacks of
me in first grade.

-ryngargulinski.2010