having a baby

she calls you on the phone
and screams,
we're not pregnant.
we're not going to have
a baby. did you hear
what i just said.
you are in the middle
of attaching a mobile
above the crib
in the freshly painted
mint green room
that used to be your
wine cellar.
oh, you say, trying not
to sound too
disappointed. i guess
that's good. you
stare at the box
of toys and the car
seat, all still in
their boxes on the floor.
the baby monitor is hooked
up to the kitchen
and out to the deck
where your hot tub is.
bottles and diapers
are stacked in piles
along with blankets
and dr. suess books.
what's wrong, she says,
you sound sad. no, not
really, you tell her.
i just wanted to be the first
eighty year old man
to attend his daughter's
highschool graduation.