Contributor: Donal Mahoney

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When Herbie gets an email
from one of his sons,
it's never a problem.
Usually it's about the game
one of them has tickets for

or a chance to go hunting.
But when he gets an email
from one of his daughters,
it's different because
her dead mother's face

is a watermark talking
behind the message.
Dead for a decade,
she wants to settle
an argument

Herbie can't remember,
an argument neighbors
can no longer hear.
This time the police
won't be coming

which makes Herbie thankful
as he tries to sound cheerful
in his reply to his daughter
who's still as beautiful
as her mother back when.


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Donal Mahoney lives in St. Louis, Missouri.