How Quickly

The sponge turned white first—

that's what I noticed. Not the colors going,

but the sponge going from white to blue to yellow

to some sick combination that looked like nothing.

The kid didn't even pause.

Just kept pressing down, kept working

like they were trying to hurt the concrete,

like the house had done something.

I watched the yellow bleed into the water

at her feet. Blue following.

All of it running gray

into the gutter.

Thirty seconds, maybe less.

I kept count without meaning to.

One. Two. Three.

The driveway was empty after.

Just wet. Just ordinary.

The kid dropped the sponge and went in.

I'm still out here trying to remember

what color that door was.