“Yes, I’m happy!” I smile and nod.
Mum pulls me into a tight squeeze.
“Well, if you’re happy,
I’m happy,” she says.
I hear a crinkling by my ear,
as Mum takes another bite
of her breakfast bap
over my shoulder.
The Following Saturday: Before a Fall—Bouldering
“Μπρ?βο, αγ?πη μου,”
Vass cheers up at me from the crash mat,
as I reach the top hold
of a difficult problem,
only just within my arm’s length.
“Smile for the camera,” they say.
As I release one hand to turn
and give Vass a thumbs-up for the photo,
my other hand loses its grip.
In an instant I see Vass’s eyes change
from proud to afraid.
I recall a Bible verse
I heard at Matt’s church,
something about pride
coming before a fall.
This doesn’t feel like flight.
It’s my inevitable downfall.
I can’t remember how Coach said
we were supposed to fall.
My eyes drop from Vass’s face
to the crash mat rushing toward me.
