Latchkey

Latchkey

Sitting alone on the school bus
daydream surfing, safe from harm.
From a red yarn round their neck hangs
a magic silver key charm.

They fumble with the front door lock
as they let themselves in.
The house is quiet as a mouse,
the long afternoon begins.

Solitude is their only friend
when the day is null and void.
Drone of the television leaves
their little minds devoid.

They shed their insignificance
teenage years boring, jejune.
The floor littered with dirty clothes
in their black light bedroom.

They listen for the turning knob,
true emotions under lid.
It’s just an endless afternoon
for the lonely latchkey kid.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2026
February 28, 2026

Happy Saturday! What a fascinating topic this week – but I wasn’t exactly sure how to approach it. I believe there was a short period of time we may have been “latchkey kids” back in the 70’s. I remember having to come home from high school around the age of 13 and babysit my younger sister and brothers while Mom worked a part-time job at a local equipment company. It did not go well, lol…. I don’t think my siblings took to me being “in charge.” Even though I was the oldest, I was just a runt anyway so… there were lots of fights and complaining once Mom came home. Anyway, there was so much tension that Mom ended up leaving that job for a while and staying home with us. I guess it wasn’t worth the aggravation and low pay!

Funny, I don’t remember all the details of it – as it was over 50 years ago! I think maybe Mom worked during the morning and came home when we were getting home from school, and possibly went back to work in the afternoon? But I do remember vividly that Dad worked on the railroad on second or third shift, so it’s possible he was at home during the day and then left for his shift once us kids got home? In any case, there were lots of conflicts and Mom probably thought it best to just be there in the afternoons to avoid any problems. I don’t blame her for that! Besides, once we were in high school, Barb and I got so involved with after school activities such as band, chorus, clubs and working our own part time jobs that we were not even home much in the afternoons and evenings!

Vince was a latchkey kid for a short time in middle school, I allowed him to walk home with his friends and do his homework until I got home. That was, until he egged our own house after school, thinking it would be funny. I told him I counted our eggs and we were missing TWO eggs from the carton, so I knew he did it. He knew he was busted and confessed, so I made him clean up the eggs which by that time were rotting and sticking to the cement in the Florida sun. He gagged and complained – but never did that again! Haha, funny stories now that we are all adults!

Today was glorious on the last day of February – so we had an outing to Doukenie Winery, our favorite spot. I rolled up the sleeves of my sweater and the sun felt so warm and relaxing as we sipped wine and watched the Canadian geese and mallard cavort in the spring-like weather on the lake. We desperately needed that, after such a hard, cold winter. I hope everyone has a great remainder of the weekend! Xoxo

Love,
Colleen

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 35.17 – Latchkey Kids|
Hard Bonus: Incorporate the word “jejune”– devoid of significance or interest; dull
Easy Bonus: Mention dirty clothes