Green Sky Poem by D.N. Rebb

1.
Benjamin is sitting in his room
He is coloring
In fact, it's his favorite thing to do
This particular box of crayons has been well used
Ben turned five last month
He has few friends
Doesn't get out very often
Since birth, he's had a condition that puzzles most doctors
His nose is constantly running
And he's extremely sensitive to sunlight
Takes his ‘special' medicine twice a day
Still, Ben is one of the most upbeat kids anyone could ever meet
Just don't interrupt him when he's coloring

2.
Sophia is working in the kitchen
She always has a smile upon her face
Stays home now to care for little Benny
Was never really big on having a career anyway
The apartment is small
It really is only a one bedroom
Benjamin's room is, in truth, an oversized closet
They have been living here for almost six years
Had to find a place to call home before their little surprise was born
She's happy though
Seldom complains
And is still very much in love with her husband
Well, actually, they're not really married
But, close enough
One day, maybe they will afford a wedding

3.
Samuel is sitting in the living room
Reading the daily paper
He just got back from working in the stock room at Walmart
He's well liked
Tries his best to look after Sophia and Ben
Money is just very tight
But, he does what he can
He flips another page of the daily news,
Catches Sophia looking at him
They both continue to stare at each other and smile
No words; just real love

4.
Coughing from the back room interrupts their moment
Both jump and deal with this daily routine
Benjamin's medicine has worn off
A new dose is quickly administered
His rapid breathing would frighten anyone
But Sam and Soph have dealt with this for the last few years
In time, the breathing relaxes; the coughing seizes
And their happy little boy is back
"Daddy, look at the picture I drew"
"It's lovely, those birds are just beautiful!
But why is the sky green? "
"I couldn't find the blue crayon.
I think it rolled under the bed.
So, I just colored the sky green."
Soph just smiles,
Says nothing, kisses her little prince on the head
Then turns to Sam and kisses him ever so gentle on the lips
"I just love this picture, Benny" states Sam
"Could I take it and hang it at my work,
I would see it every day when I'm not here with you and mommy? "
"Sure, Daddy.
Let me just put my name on it first.
Or your friends might think you drew it instead."

5.
Samuel goes to the drugstore
A weekly routine
Benjamin's meds are very expensive
And there is no insurance plan
He knows the pharmacist by name
But today, Victor isn't smiling
"I'm sorry, Sam. These meds have doubled in price this week.
Here, take what I've got. Pay me when you can.
But when the next shipment comes in, I'll have to charge double."
Sam just sighs and heads to work
He hangs the Green Sky picture up
And smiles
Yet tears fill his eyes
Somehow, the Green Sky image makes him feel better
How will he afford these meds now?
He looks at the birds and waits for them to somehow answer
His supervisor interrupts his thoughts
"Aye, Sam. You ready?
There's a new truck that just pulled into the docks that needs to be offloaded"
"No problem, Frank. I'll get on that right away.
Listen; are there more hours I could work over the next while? "
"No; ‘fraid not.
Management doesn't want any more overtime till Christmas; sorry, dude."

6.
A week goes by
Samuel still hasn't shared this new hurdle with Sophia
He doesn't want to make this her problem
He needs to find a solution
But, Sophia studies her husband
She knows something is off
Yet doesn't inquire anything
He will share; give him time
In the living room, she gently grabs his hand and just holds it
Nothing more
Together everyone is stronger

7.
The following morning, another truck to offload
Walmart loves selling electronic tablets
Couldn't an entire truck shipment misplace one tiny little box?
Samuel has never stolen anything in his life
He hides the box just under Green Sky
The birds appear angry with him
He is desperate
Ashamed
At the end of his shift, he snatches one of the tablets
Hides it in his lunchbox
Then puts the box with the others
No one's wiser
Before heading home, he stops in the pawn shop
What could this tablet bring?
There are never any questions at pawn shops
Fifty bucks of pure cash is exchanged
Thank you, please come again

8.
The fifty dollars is enough for this week's medicine
What will he do next week?
And so it goes
Every week, one box is hidden under Green Sky
One expensive item is removed
Then the slightly lighter box is placed with the others
And the item is pawned after work
Though poor Sam doesn't think of the overhead cameras
Frank, his boss, is shocked when he sees the footage
This is not the Samuel that everyone knows
Frank has no choice; and calls the police

9.
Little Ben is sitting in his daddy's lap
They're both on the couch
The evening news is informing every one of all things political
A game of I-Spy is in progress
From the kitchen, Mommy is playing along as well
There's a knock on the door
Sam opens it slowly
Two police officers are sheepishly standing in the hallway
Their hats held tight in their hands
"Are you Samuel Wilde? " one asks
"Yes, what is this all about? "
He already knows
"Could we have a discussion in the hall?
Your family doesn't need to hear everything"
Sam steps outside
Sophia, for the first time in years, has lost her faint smile
They make eye contact
But say nothing
"What's wrong, Daddy? "
"Stay inside with mommy,
These policemen just want to talk to me"
The door closes
Benjamin is crying
He doesn't know why he's crying
He just feels like he should
Sophia holds him tight
She, too, starts crying

10.
Frank feels bad
He did what he had to do
He's known both Sam and Soph for years
They all went to high-school together
Frank gave Sam this job
Considers him a good friend
And adores little Benjamin
But now he's cleaning out Sam's personal stuff
He grabs a jacket, a ball cap and a bag full of work-gloves
As he looks down into the garbage can
Notices a green crumpled drawing inside
Someone must have already cleaned up this area
He pulls it out
Smooths it out
Recognizes the signature
Benny
Folds it as best as he can
Puts it into his back pocket
And goes home

11.
The verdict is announced
The gavel comes down hard
Eighteen months for theft under two thousand
Samuel just stands there
Sophia and Benjamin are in the spectator's seating area
Tears run down everyone's cheeks
Even Frank attends
Frank still feels guilty
He knows he did the right thing,
Nonetheless, Sam's his friend

12.
"You have a visitor"
Sam is escorted into the visitation area
He was expecting Soph
But she was just here yesterday
He was surprised to find Frank sitting at the table
"Aye"
Sam nods
"I just felt I needed to see you.
This is not a place for people like you.
Let me know if there's anything I can do.
Here, I found this drawing at work
Not sure if you wanted it back"
Sam unfolds Green Sky
Tears fill his eyes
"Thank you" is all he can say
Back in his cell, he props Green Sky on the little table
Comfort

13.
Two months have past
It is a Tuesday morning; the digital clock reads 7: 24am
"Samuel Wilde, wake up.
Warden wants to see you. Follow me."
Sam takes a seat in the warden's office
The warden walks in
He's holding a piece of paper
It looks official
The warden starts reading it
"Samuel Wilde, we are sorry to inform you that your son,
Benjamin Wilde has passed away at the Downtown Nonprofit Hospital
He suffered an acute asthma attack Monday morning
Our condolences are with you.
Due to your incarceration,
A day furlough has been denied.
We are to inform you that his remains will be cremated
And a Sophia Scicolone will take possession of the ashes"
Sam stopped listening at ‘passed away'
And collapses in the chair

14.
Sophia is holding a cardboard box
She's fiddling with her keys
She steps inside her apartment
Places the box ever so gentle on the coffee table
Flops into the sofa
And just stares at the inactive TV
A hysterical weep erupts
She's never felt so alone
Scared
Heartbroken
She cries for hours
Exhaustion sets in
And eventually falls asleep on the sofa

15.
Frank thinks he should check on Sophia
Heard about little Ben
Knocks on her door
No answer
Raps harder
Still no answer
Should he leave?
Something isn't right
Tries the handle
It's unlocked
Enters
"Sophia? "
Still no answer
Wanders through the home
And discovers what his future nightmares are all about

16.
Samuel has now spent nine of his eighteen months in detention
He's earned six months for good behavior
Only three more to go
Green Sky is still perching on the table
He stares at it every day
It's the only comfort
The only comfort
Only comfort
Comfort

17.
Duncan was new to the prison
He is one bad shyster
Always looking for trouble
For some reason, Samuel becomes his prey
He starts messing with him in the cafeteria
Sam tries very hard to ignore him
He's only got a few weeks to go
To what though?
Suppose better than here
Sam heads back to his cell
And finds Green Sky torn to pieces on the floor
Rage, Samuel Wilde didn't know was in him, consumes his entire mind
He grabs the chair from the table
Heads over to Duncan's cell
Duncan, devilishly smiling, is eagerly waiting for him
But he didn't see it coming
Samuel overpowers him, first with the chair
Then with his fists
There's no stopping
No stopping
Before the guards can pounce
Duncan's no longer moving
The guards grab Sam
Sam fights them too
They can't hold him
He punches them both
Starts running
And running
Not sure where
He heads to the yard
They yell at him to stop
Shots ring out
Sam is hit
He falls
He's bleeding
He's lying on his back
He hears them coming for him
He looks up
Sees birds
And smiles
As the sky is green