He's Here Tonight

arrive at the old Victorian on Park Place
it's winter black, and crunchy snow cloaks the ground

in the moonlight, the snow vibrates blue
grandmother and grandfather walk ahead, knock on the door
nana (great grandmother) unlatches the deadbolt, hoarse voice:
quickly, don’t let the ghosts in, she winks

a Gothic fireplace flickers, popping sounds of wet logs
hissing like a pit of cobras
the mahogany dining table rests upon lion's feet carved by hand
set for tea and gin rummy
the chandelier twinkles orange and blue

drag the tweed suitcase up the long staircase
to what was Uncle David's bedroom, hoist the suitcase
onto the bed and turn around to open the closet
a springy sound behind my back, what's this?

the suitcase bounces on the bed as if on a trampoline

Note to self: do not reveal to grandparents
but I did interrupt the card game to convey the event
and when I left the room, I sneaked back to the doorway
with big ears...

grandmother to nana: mother, he's here tonight