Jacks

Abigail Thomas

Word Count 50

The only game

my mother played

was jacks

and this,

once

in a blue moon

I remember the hard

snap of the ball,

 the quickness

of her hands,

how happy she looked

I would hold

 my breath

adoring her,

 the no-nonsense way

she scooped up

 every spiky little star

and won

Abigail has four children, twelve grandchildren, one great grandchild, two dogs, and a high school education. Her books include Safekeeping; A Three Dog Life; and What Comes Next and How to Like It. She lives in Woodstock, NY.