Midway to Nowhere

When I was a teenager I enjoyed walking to the store in the middle of the day during the summer.. Sometimes it woudl be with my brothers, cousins or friends and other times I went alone. A block from my home and a little over a block from the store I had far too many unpleasant encounters with a neighbor's dog

Bullit was a tan boxer mix.. Most times he slept on the front porch or paid no attention to those walking by. Whenever I walked to the store alone there might be a problem.

Randomly as soon as I was almost past Mr. Dooley's house Bullit would run barking and snarling into the yard as if he were coming at me. Each time this happened I ran back home.

My thinking was that if I ran past him to the store he might be waiting when I returned. I cannot tell you jwo many times I was in the land of indecision. I was thankful for days Bullit left me alone or he was not on the porch. This poem is about my fear of being bitten and the decision I made midway to my destination.

Midway to the store

Once or twice a week

In the middle of my walk

I had to make a choice

That might cause others to balk

The neighbor's dog Bullit growled

As he eyes me from his front yard

I'm half way to my destination yet

This decision I make will be hard

I did not have much recourse

Back in those good old days

There was form of defense

And no pepper spray

If I kept walking and ignored him

He might allow me to pass by

Or he could charge in my direction

And I would run home as I cry

Do I dare take another step forward

Or turn back as I've done before

This middle ground is distressing

There's no way to no for sure

In the middle of the day

If I can safely pass this point

Or again will defeat endure

If I continue walking will he leave the yard

And visciously run at and bite me

Or will I be allowed to walk on by

Happy fearless and free

Nothing in his manner

Ever suggests his temperment

Will he lazily sleep as I go past

Or if I keep walking

Will it be to my detriment

Decisions decision midway through

When it comes to Bullit

I never knew what to do

In the middle of my walk

Sometimes after going back home

I would wait a while then try again

How I wished that midway to the store

Bullit had become my friend

Instead of growling and charging

He would have allowed me to pet him

Bullit did nto bother me if I walked early or late

Only in the middle of the day

Did he express to me such hate