It was a blue, tin pistol that
creaked when he pulled back the
hammer and rubbed metal on metal
when he pulled the trigger but
it was light and easy to carry.
He can’t remember if there was a
holster to go with it, but there
was a really nice Indian headdress
with at least thirty feathers and
and a beautiful red band with tie
straps in the back, also a small
bow and several arrows with rubber
suction cups on the tips. It was
enough for a two-week vacation in
the North Woods. Years later, it
was a wool, crewneck sweater bought
at a sidewalk sale in Minocqua. The
following fall in his freshman year
and then every fall and winter through
high school he wore wool, crewneck
sweaters. He was known for that —
that and chukka boots.