They Never Really Met...

 

He always called her by her first name

Though they had never met.

At the grocery store

or, while he was refereeing a hockey-game

he would skate over to the glass

and grin,

‘Hi Janet, how’s it going?’

She always smiled and said ‘fine’

because she could never remember his name…

He had that uncanny gift of never forgetting a name

though they never really met;

…Friend of a friend.

The other week at the checkout

he said, 'Hi Janet, have a good Christmas!'

And she said 'thanks, you too' and she remembered his name

‘Rick’.

They never really met.

They never will.

Rick died today.

© Janet Martin

 

Rest in peace, Rick.