Bears

I am in my early 60s
Sitting at Jim’s cafe sharing
Breakfast with the group of old
Men gathered over biscuits gravy
To tell stories about our varied lives
And as they are at the moment on
Football I am reading my book I
Rest on the table edge to the
Visible annoyance of retired
Police officer Renny short
For Reginald who is as
Fierce as a bulldog
But with a good
Humor and he
Glares at me
For my own
Rudeness
Reading
Ignoring
Sports
Talk
And
Renny
Loudly asks
Me what I think
Of some team the
Topic of table talk so
I reply without looking up
A line from the film Planes
Trains and Automobiles by
John Candy, “How about those
Bears? Hell of a team, hell of a team!” which erupts the entire
Table and Renny into laughter
As they are all delighted at
My quick response as I
Keep reading my book
Prompting Renny to
Comment that it is
Rude of me to be
Reading when
Others are
Talking to
Which I
Reply
Then
Talk
About
Something
Interesting and
I will stop reading
But I look up at
Him smiling so
He grins and
Laughs and
Repeats
Bears
Hell of
A team,
Hell of
Team.