With Sadie at the Movies

for Sadie

The first time I rode Sadie’s bus I paid the fare,
said “hi,” asked her for a transfer. She looked
at me and said “no.” Not unfriendly, just “no.”
My jaw dropped, I started stammering. She
laughed, said “so serious,” handed me a transfer.
Whenever I could I sat up front near her.

After my sister Kit helped me buy my first car,
a used baby blue Dodge Dart with white roof,
I rode Sadie’s bus for the last time, explained
that I would miss her, told her we should go see
the new Star Wars movie, pressed a slip of paper
with my phone number on it into her palm.

A few nerve-wracking days later, she called!
That first call, we talked deep into the night.
On our first date we went to see Places in
the Heart. No, that’s not it. Sadie was a place
in my heart. We went to see Tender Mercies.
Sadie was sweet, a tender mercy, a sanctuary.

Andrew Shattuck McBride
PaPoWriMo ~ 2012 *Day Eighteen Poem*
October 16, 2012