help is on the way

i couldn't turn

off my

father's medical alert system

after he

died.

there was no obvious

power button,

no battery

door.

despite all efforts,

pulling

the plugs from the wall,

it kept on.

i wanted to return

it to the company he rented

it from.

the pendant

around his

neck too, pried off

at the funeral home.

they wanted that as well,

though it never had

a chance of being used.

i wrapped the box

in the only paper i could

find. valentine's paper,

with hearts and fat

cupids floating in pink air

with arrows poised.

I sent it out, via

UPS.

i laughed as my father would

have as i left

the package

on the counter. it continued

to plaintively

announce

without stopping, help

is on the way,

help is on the way. help

is on the way.