Reunion

It will be such and such a year, the sun appearing now and then, clouds over cola, booze and beer, teenagers now grey-bearded men, corn on the cob and sizzling meats, smoke from a charcoal-heated grill. There will be women, cries, and feats, dandelions on a hill, twister, spin the bottle, hide and seek. There will be joy and laughter, marshmallows, bonfire and hayride, a game of softball the day after. Only you will lag behind, Nineteen Eighty-Four no nearer— your clothing, hairstyle, language, mind— trapped inside a rear-view mirror.