I remember Woolworth’s,
Montgomery Ward, Kmart.
I remember Sears,
where my mother left me
at four standing at the top
of an escalator to race down
it after telling me "Stand right here—
do not move" to save a smaller child
who had fallen and was headed for
a dangerous arrival at the bottom.
"How did you know you could trust him
alone there at the top?" someone asked
her when she returned, hero of the hour.
"I know him," she said.

This was a different visit
than the time she told me
"If we ever get separated,
if you ever get lost,
go to that counter over there
and they will make an announcement
over the loudspeaker and
I will come find you,"
and ten minutes later
they were announcing my name
throughout the store.
"I got lost," I told her
as she approached the counter.
She smiled.  "I know you."