the red ball

a kid
out in front
of the house
is trying to set
a record
for bouncing
a ball in one
place.
you look out
the window
and see him
staring
at the sidewalk
and the red
ball
hitting
his hand
and bouncing
down
then back up
again. he is
in a trance.
his ten short
years being
punctuated by this
task
of bouncing
the ball
until finally
a woman's voice
screams
out of a window.
jack, stop
bouncing that
ball and come
in for dinner.
which he does
after kicking
the ball
down the street
with his short
fat leg.