Things You May Not Know

Dad only took $2 to work
every day. Always brought
change home.

My younger sister, Tara,
and I used to fight over who
got to take his boots off.

I'd climb up on his lap, put my
arms around his neck, hug
him tight.

When we rubbed noses he called
it Eskimo kissing. Inuit people press
their cheek to another's.

I called this, whiskering, because his
stubble tickled me. When you're a kid
that's the stuff money can't buy.