Pumpkin

by Melinda Nowikowski

Hallowe'en, ran to the store late For something, coffee, who knows? Three AmerInd teenagers, doing their Level best to look Innocent as kittens, Sprang from a pickup truck as I came out The automatic doors. It was cold, I was alone, they were Running straight at me... For half a second I held my breath. Then one of them winked at me, Snatched a pumpkin from a crate, Tossed it to one of the others, And they were back in the truck And on the street. Right down the middle of Indian Wells, I was half a block behind as They laughed, the two in the back Fell about, clutching pumpkin While the driver swerved, no dignity. I was still laughing when the DPS car's Lights flashed in my rearview, Moved out of the way just as the Pumpkin made a bomb, There on the pavement and The boy who'd winked at me Fished for his I.D.