Flashlight

I am eleven
Holding an old
Rube Goldbergy
Flashlight reading
Under the covers on
The top bunk my little
Brother on the bottom
Bunk and my Dad in a
Bed nearby as we all
Three share a room
In our new house in
San Antonio while
My three sisters
Share another
Bedroom and
My Mom has
The study
Room so
I am
Forced
To read in
Secret under
The covers each
Page a delicious coup
Unaware how obvious I am
Thinking only of the science
Fiction story I am reading
When suddenly the light
Explodes sending hot
Glass shards onto
My shoulder and
Arm all in the
Darkness so
I quietly put
My book to
One side
Collect
The
Glass
Shards
And drop
Them into
The bedside
Trash basket
Wondering if I
Will be able to
See tomorrow
But fall asleep
Finding out
The next
Day my
Eyes
Are
OK
But my
Shoulder
Has some
Blisters
That
Will heal
So I will have
To sneak into the
Bathroom to read
Until I scavenge
A new flash
Light.