That summer I left my childhood behind.
Grandma arrived in her ancient Oldsmobile
giant sugar cookies nestled in tissue paper
in a Poughkeepsie bakery box
hidden beneath her suitcase in the back seat
unattainable until we submitted to her yanking the lice comb
through our unruly hair.

That summer I left my childhood behind.
Grandma announced that this summer
she would be taking me – the eldest – as her companion
for her annual trek to Atlantic City
I climbed into the July-sticky bench seat beside her
No seat belts, no air conditioning,
Just roll down the window for a bit of precious breeze.

That summer I left my childhood behind.
Grandma would have nothing to do with
the Four Seasons billboarded on the Steel Pier
my pre-teen self pleading to no avail
finally resigned that we were not there for frivolous amusement
or anything that cost money.

That summer I left my childhood behind.
Grandma said to stand sideways in the ocean waves
so the force of water could not break our legs
not convinced that showing a sliver of midriff was obscene
I abhorred my one-piece bathing suit with a ruffled top
to camouflage my budding breasts.

That summer I left my childhood behind.
Homesick, I wanted to make a long-distance call
from the phone in a closet in the lobby
but Grandma insisted it was time I grew up
as she had left Italy with a stranger at my age
in obedience to marry as her father wished.

That summer I left my childhood behind.
We argued about everything
Why did we have to stay in this musty two-story hotel
as dated as my Grandmother
when luxury modern hotels loomed beside us
with pools and music and laughter.

That summer I left my childhood behind.
Refusing to make the bed if the maid would make it for us
but Grandma opened the window
and threatened to jump if I didn’t do what she said
I knew nothing of mental illness
and dutifully dragged the sheets and spread over the pillows.

That summer I left my childhood behind.
My first vacation was finally over and
I carried our suitcases down to the street
climbed into the Oldsmobile
and wordlessly headed home
forever changed.