My mouth went dry, just listening;

They painted in blacks and blues.

The lights were out, the children hidden in their room.

Do you remember Summer nights they suffered through?

Someone set the curtains burning,

Andre ran into the bathroom with a knife.

He climbed the shower stall, slipped through the window, into the night.

Do you remember fear that held you tight?

Everybody’s right until the first time they go wrong.

The lesson of a lifetime, maybe more.

Andre got free. He was never caught.

I was looking dumb, sitting on the bathroom floor.