Kristin Buxton

PK

Being a preacher's kid meant
All the little old ladies knew my name
My dislike of peas became a sermon topic
I've never said a Hail Mary

but I know the Lord's Prayer and Apostle's creed
like others know the Pledge of Allegiance

I went on all of the church trips
My parents found out about the skinny-dipping

on one trip to Alabama
and my mom asked what it was like

I never believed in Santa Claus

or the Easter bunny

I learned to amuse myself alone in the pew

with only the bulletin and a pencil
sometimes sleeping

Hearing "It's a phase, you'll grown out of it"

in third grade when I told my mom I didn't believe in God

Trying to prove her right, and failing
I always wondered why my dad hadn't studied Chemistry instead.