hookie

we played hookie today, the four of us,
slipping through the cracks unannounced,
hitching a ride on a steel star,
just to see the view,
walking aisles with poets & storytellers,
eating the best $4.95 sub
you'll ever find,
with grandaddy and gramma.

we even took the secret stash
of chocolate covered peanuts
out of grandaddy's desk,
sucking them clean
before crunching them
as we walked downtown
to the tune of sidewalk minstrels.

school will wait.
work will wait.
we will not,
until the sun goes down
smiles creasing our faces
as we sink
our heads into the pillow.

because some days
you just need
to play hookie.