the bridge

his father met his mother when he (the father) was twenty-six
after he'd jumped off the bridge at twenty-one
jumped off and didn't break his neck
or drown
or have a vision
the river swept him toward the sea
but left him in a backwash
with oil and shit and broken boats
he climbed out on his own
went home
showered and dressed
and went to work on time
he told us the story when we were in our teens
told it as an interesting sequence of events
no reasons and no consequences
no thoughts
no insights
no ill effects
he jumped off the bridge then fished himself out
and went to work on time
so he could meet his wife five years later
have a son and buy a house in the suburb
play cards with some neighbors
and drive an Oldsmobile to work
leaving two boys confounded in the dark
wishing their beers held answers