SIT-IN

Aunt Martha was not pleased.

I knew because I overheard her
tell my mother what happened when
everybody on the school trip to Hershey
Park got on the miniature train
and the conductor came to collect
the nickel from all the passengers.
She said I said I didn't have any money
-- had I spent it on potato chips? --
but refused to get off even when
the conductor insisted and to avoid
making a scene she had to pay
my fare. She was, she said,
terribly embarrassed by my behavior.

Six decades later I'm impressed by
that five-year-old rebel. It's way
too late to apologize to Aunt Martha,
and, to tell the truth, I'm not sure
I'd want to, even if I could.