I was bored and my feet hurt,
as usual when shopping.
I stood within arm's length of my mother.
Other children, my age and younger,
stood still, silent and bored
in the shadow of their mother,
a short fat red-faced woman
who barked when backed into the corner
of Ladies Wear.
"You hate me!  You just want to get rid of me!"
The father,
who I think ate only potatoes,
spoke softly and evenly to the
heavy-duty carpet.
"I don't want to get rid of you.  I love you."

My mother was very intent on her shopping,
and the children waited to go back into the mall
and throw pennies in the fountain.