One (Sarah Crossan)

Again

Dad comes back from another interview

and doesn’t talk.

He sits with Grammie watching

Law and Order

and drinking warm beer.

After three bottles he storms out

and doesn’t come back for hours,

not until he is red-faced and fizzing.

‘Someone make me a sandwich,’

he commands,

leaning against the kitchen table.

Dragon jumps up

from her homework

to do it.

‘Ham?’ she asks.

Dad ignores her and sits on the sofa.

He is asleep before

she has even buttered the bread.