When Grandma Said a Swear

Stormy days at Grandma’s we hide indoors.
Puzzles, games, and a couple of chores.

Midafternoon and I help Grandma sweep,
then I go to find Moe but he’s fast asleep.

“Want to play?” asks Grandma, holding Candyland.
This would be our last time for Grandma’s now banned.

I’m the Ice Cream Cone as always and Grandma’s the Gum Drop.
We’ll play a few games ‘till Mommy’s back from the shop.

Grandma wins the first and has a lead in the next,
but I come back to win and Grandma looks vexed.

Tied one game apiece, isn’t that dandy?
This last game here is for all of the candy.

Back and forth we go in a sugary struggle,
kitty wants pets but this is no time to snuggle.

Past the Licorice Lagoon and the Frosted Palace,
it’s Grandma’s turn and she smiles with malice.

“One more spin should do it,” she says with a sneer,
seeing King Candy’s Castle her Gum Drop is near.

She flicks the spinner and I look to down to see
just how nice a dame Lady Luck’s gonna be.

“Peanut! Peanut!”  I squeak high-pitched like a mouse.
That’s all the way back to Nana’s Nut House!

Grandma glares at the spinner and her eyes lit,
under her breath she mumbles “bull spit.”

Then her jaw drops open and her face turns beet red,
she couldn’t believe what she had just said.

“Poopie, my Dear,” she says in an attempt to recover,
desperately hoping I never repeat it to mother.

I win the game but there’s little fanfare,
Grandma quickly packs it away and rustles my hair.

When Mommy comes back Grandma says not a word
regarding the travesty my little ears have heard.

We’re out the door; it closes with a rattle.
Grandma looks relieved that I didn’t tattle.

“Watch for puddles,” says Mom. “It’s still raining a bit.”
“Okay,” I say.  “And watch for dog spit.”