I was once a runner

Nothing spectacular

just steady

Warm muscles gliding

In loose loops around our neighborhood

Years ago I was jogging

I saw my son walking up ahead

I followed

Thinking it would be funny

Thinking he’d hear the pounding of my sneakers,

turn around and see me

We’d laughed

Instead he jumped into a car

With a couple of guys I didn’t know

Teens yet older than my kid

Sketchy AF

Their car pulled away from the curb

Suddenly I jumped into the street

Wide legged stance

Palm outShouting

where in the the hell do you think you’re going with my kid

The car jerked to a stop

I ordered my son out of the backseat

Grumbling he joined me

Fussing I scolded him on

Bad choices, worse consequences

Stunned the teens apologized and

Sped off

I think about that day

Think about not being able to catch up

Think about not being able to save my oldest from The highway of god-awful choices and consequences that followed

I think about my boy

I was once a runner