gesturing to come share a towel,
Sarah, at the top of Black Widow,
watching Trent’s wet ride down.
“Not hungry yet,” I shouted to Mom.
To Leigh, “Be there in a few.”
Then I joined my oldest, bestest
friends in the world, tried to think
of something to talk about
besides lifeguards, bad boys,
and this person named Bree,
growing stronger inside me,
convincing me to be someone
I never dreamed I’d want to be.
I know you should be able
to share such news with best friends,
but I felt pretty sure they’d never
relate and maybe refuse to forgive
me for trading in the tried-and-true
for a test drive of the dark side.
Still, When Brendan Came By
I left my friends with my sister, took
a walk to the back of the park, the eyes
in back of my head noting envious stares.
Brendan noticed, too.
You related to those people?
“Pretty much.” I bummed a cigarette,
inhaled like it was the healthiest
thing a person could do.
The pretty one looks like you,
but the others don’t