Rough Day: A Poem

woke up

ollie asked for v bucks (video game money)

no
screamed for v bucks

no

begged for v bucks

no

cursed

finally had his pill and ate a piece of toast

played with adam*

went to dr. appt

she got to see adhd firsthand

refused hpv shot

screamed about hpv shot

got shot anyway

asked for v bucks for shot

had lunch

went to office to take a picture

adam and ryan* came over

when can we go to the pool

when can we go to the pool

asked for v bucks

adam and ryan fight

ryan leaves

i bandage up adam

quiet

mom, we used eggs for a tiktok

how many eggs

why

because we were having breakfast for dinner tonight

oh

how many eggs

um you may want to get more eggs

how many eggs

4

okay

5

oookay how many are left

4

okay

cops outside

going in and out of susan/bill's* house

boys outside

mom, cops are outside

boys to police "what the heck happened?"

police to boys "go back inside"

come inside please

come inside please

susan, let me know how i can help

come inside please

don't open the window, you don't have to listen to their conversation

close the window please

who wants to go to the pool?

hooray

gather stuff

make sure you have towels and water bottles

can we buy popsicles

i will not buy anything

ollie has money

then ollie can buy you popsicles

susan opens back door

susan "so this is what happened..."

boys gape

go outside please

we want to hear

go outside please

can we go to the pool now

leave us alone for crying out loud

quiet

i pack up computer, laptop cooling pad, snacks, notepads, work papers

boys decide to ride their bikes/scooters

put your towels and water bottles in the car

I'll meet you over there

be careful

wear your helmets

wait

wait

ryan appears

they fell

who fell

ollie fell

is he alright

i think he's not alright

put ryan's bike in the car

put ryan in the car

stop at the scene

ollie's screaming-crying and bleeding

scraped up

neighbor stops 

need help?

no thank you we've got it

adam's looking pained

can we still go to the pool

ryan "doesn't look like it"

yeah...no but a nice cool house with a movie and popcorn sounds perfect

adam "ugh"

ollie "he doesn't care about me"

get home

adam "can we play on the ps4"

no, just sit and watch a movie

i can hook up the ps4 up here

no, we're just going to sit here and watch a movie

why not

because doug doesn't like people messing with his tv

i wouldn't be messing with the tv, i'd be messing with the ps4

adam, asked and answered, buddy

try to wash and bandage a squirmy, sobbing son

ryan chases the dog and screams

adam "i'm outta here"

ollie "i deserve v bucks now"

unload car

unload bag

set up computer and work notebook

ask for v bucks

quiet

ollie and ryan eat chips

maybe i can get some work done

adam brings crutches for ollie's scraped knee

ryan and adam "help" ollie downstairs to play

quiet

adam "can i use your mower"

what

no

why not

because there's no reason to use a lawnmower right now

ollie

what

we've got a problem

what 

your mom says i can't use your mower

ok

quiet

we're going outside

i thought you were going to relax with the seven (7) band-aids you have on your body

no

i'm better

i can bend my knee

be back by 6

okay

susan "want to help me get this stray cat out of my backyard"

nextdoor app picture of stray cat

stray cat freaks and leaves

get messages about where is stray cat

doug comes home

ollie comes home

made $25 on neighbor's yard

going to do more

eat some dinner

not hungry

quiet

take dog for walk

meet adam

you're going to want to talk to ollie

he won't give me my money for the yard

get home

ollie's sobbing

figure out problem

give adam and ryan their cut

feed all

shower all

movie all

bedtime

*names were changed