happiness is a milkshake

at half time, i told

the boy,

tonight

we're making milkshakes.

his eyes got wide

and a smile

came across his face,

like the sun rising on a beach,

while his mother

shook her

head darkly

and nibbled on a celery

stalk,

a square of cheese.

i took out the carton

of whole milk,

then a half gallon

of double chocolate

ice cream

and two large mugs.

carefully i showed him

how to dip

out the scoops, 

and then pour the milk,

just so,

so that it wouldn't overflow,

then squirted on

the whipped cream,

bringing it to a pyramid

type cone,

before placing a cherry on top.

for crunch i added

a sprinkling of nuts.

i let him poke in the straw,

and the long spoons,

then we went

downstairs, carefully,

to watch the second half

of the football game.