Youngstown

Fiction

Went to visit my nephew and his wife and kids in Shreveport.

My nephew married this pretty little thing, she’s 43 years old now, looks about 28.

Anyway, I’m down there, not much to say, they’re just bein’ nice, it’s warm, that’s about it.

My grandniece has some kinda seizure, an episode of some sort, and whatnot.

They’re leaving to rush her to the hospital, they say “can you watch Bobby?”, that’s my grandnephew.

I say sure, right, because what else am I gonna say, right?

Bobby wants me to play games with him.

I was good at pinball. 

These games these kids play, shit, I can’t even figger out what’s goin’ on. 

I tried.

I really did.

Thought it would be fun.

Just made me feel old and confused, like my dad when he seent a picture of Alice Cooper.

So I just leave Bobby alone, let him play his games.

His daddy, my nephew, calls, says they’re runnin’ more tests, could I make sure Bobby’s games go off at 9, make sure he’s in bed by 10.

I ask him, “what if he don’t wanna obey?”