Best friends from childhood
skinned knees, scuffed sandals, cuts, and bruises,
skinny, angular pony legs, muddy hands and faces, hair tangled
mischief-makers
laughing, teasing, jumping, running, secret-telling, fort-building, tree-climbing

until the day one fell from the tree
the laughing stopped
paralyzed

growing into manhood
life became more serious
always and forever friends
still laughing and teasing
not four and one
but five
included

the healer comes
the answer arrives
the plotting begins

what if?
let’s do it
to the roof?
why not?
should we?
a huge hole…
we’ve done worse

lower, lower, lower
stop
silence
faces look upward
four faces look downward
breathe is held
then

the healer smiles
the faith of the friends stirs the Master

get up and walk
gasp
cheering

who am I?
helpless or helper?

yes