picking & choosing
they were waiting to have a child
until they could afford one
an unlikely proposition
especially during a recession
he would tell stories about being
the only child
while she lamented
of being the youngest of the litter
childhood memories
didn’t appear to have any bearing
with their recent decision-making
or lack thereof
when spring arrived they planted
a grafted apple tree
special-ordered from the nursery
the kind with four varieties
months later the economy improved
the apples ripe for picking
each one given a name
alternating between boy & girl
may two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
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