Aunt Ruth and the Bookworm

You leaned against the window in the sunroom
Reading a novel borrowed from your friend
Buried your nose in pages stained with coffee
Halfway between beginning and the end
Every time the pages turn
The smell of cigarettes left burning
Wafting by, you long dismissed the scent
But as you close in on the final chapter
Heart racing ever faster
Could you skip ahead and read the end?

Aunt ruth was on the steps of your apartment
Ringing the buzzer to come up and chat
She never cares for anything but gossip
Gossip about your mother and her cat
Gerald voted independent
Missus Janney lost the rent and
Silas fell down from the windowsill
But as your eyes were slowly glazing over
Head still nodding on your shoulders
Should you have pretended you were ill?

Aunt ruth talked till she had nothing to tell
You walked her out to her car and bid her farewell
Your Ears still ringing from everything she said
Grabbed your book and you tucked into your bed

Now you turn the final page
Close the cover and turn out the lights