I had always wondered about the family across the street
and why they never took down their Christmas lights.
my mom said it was because they were white trash
but I knew they weren't
because they mowed their lawn
and had apple trees in the back.
so when I saw the dad smoking a pipe outside
I asked him why.
and he said that they were his daughters favorite colors
and he loved seeing a part of her everyday.
I wasn't sure what he meant at the time
but then I noticed the single stared flag in their window
and the way the kids never touched the biggest bike.
I realized colorful cheer isn't just for December.