Yellow Mama E zine

Bobby Shafto’s Story

 

by Darrell Petska

 

I sent her a letter from each port of call,

bought her a ring in Hong Kong and a silky

kimono in Tokyo—only to find her

shacked up with her Pilates instructor.

 

Goodwill’s got the kimono. I pawned the ring,

pissed how she’d played me like a chump.

One day I found her on Facebook

holding a baby that looked just like me,

 

which freaked me out, so I hopped a freighter

to Shanghai, wore an orange robe awhile, then

hitched home on a container ship to claim my kid.

They socked me with a restraining order!

 

Now I write grisly, ocean-going murder mysteries.

The jerk who stole my kid is always the victim.

 

 

       Darrell Petska is a retired university engineering editor whose writing has appeared in Yellow Mama, Clockwise Cat, 3rd Wednesday Magazine, Orchards Poetry Journal, and widely elsewhere online and in print (conservancies.wordpress.com). Father of five and grandfather of seven, he lives near Madison, Wisconsin, with his wife of more than 50 years.

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       Bernice Holtzman’s paintings and collages have appeared in shows at various venues in Manhattan, including the Back Fence in Greenwich Village, the Producer’s Club, the Black Door Gallery on W. 26th St., and one other place she can’t remember, but it was in a basement, and she was well received. She is the Assistant Art Director for Yellow Mama.