the blue metal box

it was a blue

metal

box that i kept under my bed

that held

my paper route money.

it had a three

digit

combination

lock.

123, so i wouldn't forget.

inside

i kept the cash and coins

from my

collections

and the notes

that kept

track of how much i lent

out

to my mother,

sisters

and brothers.

i still have it,

the box

and the note,

but they still haven't paid

me back. i guess

at some point,

each Christmas,

i need to stop bringing it up.