Favoring Candy

We went to Addie's Lodge
On the lake in Canada
Every year for vacation
When I was a little boy.

Mom, dad, me.

There was a
Dog named
Candy at the lodge.

They said she did
Not like people.

But every year Candy
And I would play and
Sit in the sun together.
I would talk to her and
Ask her questions.
I think I even
Got some answers.

Everyone was amazed.

One day mom and another lady
Were talking about favoring:
I favor my mother,
He favors his uncle,
She favors her granny.

I wasn't sure what that meant,
But it sounded good,
So I said:
I favor Candy.

They looked at me
Funny and burst out
Laughing.

No you don't, they cackled.

Yes, I do!
I like Candy! I said.

They howled.

To favor someone
Means that you
Look like them,
Not that you like them,
Mom giggled.

The two of them
Just kept on cackling
For the longest time.

HAHAHAHA

I felt humiliated.

Now, I'm sure I would have
Laughed too in their place,
But Candy was my only
Real friend back then and
I looked forward all year long
To being with her again.

To me this was
Not so funny.

It was serious.

The next year
We arrived and
They told me
Candy had died.

Well, she was old.

I was very sad.

Canada was
Never the same again.
Not for me.

And for the record,
I still favor Candy
No matter what
That is supposed to mean!