Using Google’s street view app, I visited
my childhood home, a 2-story Georgian
in Chicago.

I cruised the street, north and south.
I zoomed in; I zoomed out.

That night, I dreamed I went into the house
of my childhood.

My mom was preparing lunch, Campbell’s
chicken noodle soup and a peanut butter
and jelly sandwich.

At the staircase, I saw myself tumbling
down on a makeshift cardboard sled.

Then lying on the sofa braiding the fringe
along the bottom while watching
I Love Lucy on TV.

I went to the backyard and
saw the peach tree in full bloom
before it had been hit by lightning.

Then I cruised the alley,
where we kids went when we were
told to go out and play.

Finally, I retraced the five-block
route to school and back.
I spent eight school years
on that route, four times a day—
Jeffery, Euclid, Bennett, Constance,
Cregier—Cregier, Constance, Bennett,
Euclid, Jeffery.

I used to think I could walk
that route in my sleep …

And that’s what I actually did.