week fifty-one

Of course it’s true, it feels like yesterday

waking up in a 2 am panic because I forgot to move the Elf,

Johnny Rockets, named by two toddlers without a clue what an Elf was.

He smiled his fixed smile every December for 24 days,

until the Christmas came when you told me you knew he wasn’t real.

Now I go to sleep before either of you,

and you both move Johnny (when you remember.)

This year on Johnny’s last day, he left us a note

like the ones he used to write

when you thought he was magic.

Marker and index card and a promise to see us next year.