Day 9: Dobject's Utilities Worker

-->I heard the bearded man’s voice

through my door

I crouched behind

when he drove his gigantic truck

with the sharp tools

and the long chains

and the hundreds of white metal safes

into my driveway

because he knew where I lived, and

after the dogs tried to bite him,

and after he bribed them to be quiet

with the food he brought

for protection,

I heard him from behind my door,

knocking knocking,

knocking, knocking,

knocking… pounding,

to come in

but why—he didn’t say

or where he came from

or who he was

or what he was going to do

or how he wanted to do it

and my

heart was

punching

my throat

with need

for air

when he shouted

where are my parents

and if they were home

and if I could open up for him,

but no one was at home.