Write Away

1. Loaning me your sweatshirt for no better reason than I wanted it             I washed it before I gave it back: “Haha yeah it smells good…” “…It smells like you” 2. Getting frozen yogurt together that you paid for             Sharing a 0.5oz sample cup 3. Coming to the party for no better reason than I asked you to             “Is it hitting you yet?”             “How could you tell?” 4. Spinning me in my chair             Playing with the armrest             Pulling my chair closer to yours 5. The four-hour road trip Pretending to fall asleep on my shoulder Letting me feed you snacks, feeding me snacks Holding your phone with ...

He is the presenter His project: a PowerPoint presentation. He has flashcards with nothing written down Slides with titles and no content. His transitions are elaborate, the colors are captivating. Yet his presentation lacks meaning, thought, care. He has the skills to grab your attention But you absorb nothing He offers nothing. He has great plans and no presentation. If it were an interview perhaps his slides would not be so bare But then again, is this not his job on the line? A meeting where he is the presenter With a blank PowerPoint presentation.

Recess would be the time to run free, After being inside practicing tracing K’s around pages. Run short, long, straight, up, down, anywhere. Tumbling out of the Little Tikes Jr. gym, Hands on the ground, one foot too far ahead I couldn’t stop. Monkey bars were my favorite. Swinging forward and up, my stomach dropped with excitement. When my hands were too sweaty I moved to the balance beam; Pink like Pepto-Bismol, steady as a log in white rapids. I loved the challenge and the thrill Each obstacle increasing my imagination. To be five and curiously competitive is dangerous Or so I learned. The scuffed plastic jungle gym was boring, It was dull and old and not intriguing Until the day I tumbled and ran Falling through the rabbit hole. Climbing head-first out of the top round cutout I placed hands then foot on the grassy dirt ground. The next foot went forward and I tripped. The back foot flew forward and I tripped. The trip turned into...