The Day Normal Changed

The day normal changed




Friday, November 22, 1963
Working 4 o’clock shift

1 o’clock get up
Shower out last night’s all night
Cigarette smoke
Beer drunk
Snooker table
Cobwebs
Ten dollars out front
Smile

Rush to laundry
Starched fatigues ready
Back to the barracks and change

Then off to the mail room before chow
Read/walk a letter from my grandmother
Check enclosed
Smile

A tear streaked face snaps in front of me
Its mouth opens,
“They shot the God damned President”

I stopped and
Normal changed
Forever.