A Prairie Home Companion from American Public Media: First Person

Untitled
by Kent Bramley
January 3, 2007

Woke up this morning, I was 8 again
Sat up in bed, looked around and grinned

My brothers bed on the other wall
Was empty, covers pushed up in a ball

Put my feet on the cold basement floor
And I knew, I wasn't an adult any more

I ran to my dresser to get me some cloths
Flew up the stairs where the sun light glows

Ran to the back door window to see
If Kevin was out there waiting for me

Kevin was there with his magnifying glass
I could smell the smoke from his pile of grass

Kevin turned his head and smiled his big grin
He was burning up bugs in a grass pile again

The smell of the fresh pavement filed the hot air
The old giant cottonwood was still standing there

I grabbed my marbles and flew out the gate
He jumped up in his tee shirt and yelled Kent wait

I'll go get Kelly and see if he'll play
Maybe we'll get some of his marbles today

I can hardly remember where it is I came from
But I'll stay here forever and play in the sun

It took awhile but they both came to play
Kelly looked at me and his eyes seemed to say

Hello little brother, have you been practicing?
Got my big can of gold, can you take one from me?

Kevin and I looked deep in his can
"Play with that moonie", all part of my plan

"Which marble are you using", he asked with a grin
"My favorite cat eye that helps me win"

He laughed as he looked at it saying "no"
"I'll need something better for the moonie little bro"

My best marbles I revealed to him
Hoping the bumblebee would look thin

"Bumblebee", he pointed and grinned
"Do you think you can get the moonie with him?"

I can hardly remember where it is I came from
But I'll stay here forever cause it's always fun

I thought for a second, that moonies mine
Kevin pulled out a steely, always worth the time

Kelly shot the moonie up on the front lawn
Kevin took the parkway where the grass was long

I shot down the side walk far away
From the devastating accuracy of my older prey

Kelly and Kevin share long distance blows
I try to get closer hoping neither of them knows

3rd shot it's over, Kevin lets out a groan
The steely is gone, it's found a new home

One way, then the other, I keep passing him by
He hangs back and waits like a spider for a fly

Caring not that I will not get close
He bides his time like fishing from a boat
Bating his hook and watching his float

I can hardly remember where it is I came from
But I'll stay here forever till I learn how to run

Aiming past the prey, and way down the hill
I send the bee flying down the sidewalk so still

Moonie poised in the cannon as my bee bumbles by
He hunkers down low and aims with his eye

Bee is moving a really fast rate
Moonie is shot like a horse from a gate

No way he can hit one rolling fast down the hill
The moonie heads for the interceptive kill

Snap, the bumblebee stops in its path
Spinning around till it's stopped by the grass

There is silence as Kelly ambles up to the bee
He puts it in his pocket along with the steely

Kevin and I just stand with big smiles
Not caring at all about what we have lost
For what we have gained can't be measured by cost

I can hardly remember where it is I came from
But I'll stay here forever just to watch you run

He turned around and headed back to the house
I yelled out, "Kelly do you want to play again"
Yawning he smiled looking back with a grin

"Keep practicing, I'll play you another day"
He walked away back into the house

Kevin patted me on my shoulder and sighed
Better luck next time, headed back to the yard

Alone now I look down the block and I smile
There is more fun to have on this hot summer day

Hide and seek, war, riding my bike
Go find a friend to stay by my side

Water from hoses, apples from trees
I wont go home till I am all grown, you see

I can hardly remember where it is I came from
I can't stay here forever but to visit is fun

About the author:
I am 44, married with 3 children, Liam 5, Emily 8, Connor 10, wife Wendy. My brothers, Kevin and Kelly, are no longer with us. I write stories about them for myself and my children. This story is true. I woke up from a dream a while back with this story in my head. As I recalled the details I realized that it was a memory not a dream.