'Just go already!' I shout

Charlie arrives at my side and says,

'He's not gonna make it'

Across the yard, Matt considers

The large pile of firewood.

Charlie has no faith

But I've known Matt since

The first grade and

He can do just about

Anything.

 

'Go!' Charlie tells him

Matt runs at the pile and

Jumps over it with ease.

I look at Charlie and say,

'I told you so'

Charlie is nervous because

Now he has to do the same,

And he

Can't jump as high

As Matt can.

 

He practices running

To make sure his steps are

Right, then finally jumps

He makes it over, but

He doesn't land on his feet

Like Matt.

He loses his

Balance

And falls down

On the other side.

 

After he gets up

He points to Matt and says,

'Your turn.'

We add more sticks

To the pile

To make it taller

And I think to myself,

Maybe when I grow up I'll be tall

And then I can jump over things

Too.

 

Matt goes again and

Succeeds,

But it looks more difficult

Than last time.

Then it's Charlie's turn again

Matt watches and says,

'He's not gonna make it'

Charlie's feet

Catch the top of the pile

And he stumbles forward.

 

He tries to put out his leg

But lands crooked on his heel

And goes down--

He starts yelling

Like he's hurt

And Matt and I

Go over to see.

Charlie says 'Ah! My foot!'

And rolls around

In the grass.

 

I try to ask if I can help

But he is too busy cursing

Under his breath

To answer.

Matt is laughing at him

Charlie says he

Thinks he broke his foot

And we both laugh

And tell him to get up

But he can't get up.

 

So we go inside the house

And use the telephone

To call Charlie's father--

He comes in his

Dark-green pickup truck

To take Charlie away.

Now Matt and I are

Bored

And there is less talking

Because Charlie isn't here anymore.

 

That night

Matt and I

Sit by the campfire

Alone,

And I want to say,

It's not as fun

When it's just

The two of us

But

I don't say it.