Understanding Love at Almost-8

on July 9th 1978, Robbie O'Neill
gave me a soft yellow leather pitcher's glove
so I could hide the ball better
from Dougie Bouget when we were playing pickle,
"Thanks!"

"Don't worry, I got like five of them, "
and he hit me on the shoulder
and smiled.

I loved him,
but not like I loved Dougie's mom,

she smiled at me once
in third grade
and handed me a cookie and some lemonade,
"Honey, call your mom so she knows you're here."

I did.