just one stupid thing will do it

as kids, once

the ballgame was over,

we'd sit

on the front stoop and drink

our sodas

and wonder what it was

we could invent

to make us famous and rich.

we laughed at

things like the hoola hoop,

slinkies,

chia pets,

and pet rocks.

silly putty,

cabbage patch dolls,

not to mention ant farms,

and yo yo's.

there had to be some

stupid thing

not yet thought of

that we could invent

and make a bazillion dollars on.

even now when we talk

about it,

fifty years later,

we still don't have a single

idea in our head.