Crank (Crank 1)

was think about my personal

evolution. Where did I

belong

with my relative innocence

gone? Where did I fit?

I felt like I had fallen in

to

a critical state of limbo.

With my old friends mired

in status quo, how could I explain

my

summer enlightenment? My new

crowd—if three guys and Guinivere

qualified—was not what my

mom

(or I) expected. I wondered if I should

confess that her sweet, intelligent

little Kristina did not exist

anymore.

Leigh Headed Back to School

Mom drove her to the airport.

I waited until they hustled off, late,

then asked to stay home, claiming, “Cramps.”

Mom gave me a look, but I could prove

the cramps were real. Leigh gave me a big,

tense hug, made me promise to behave myself.

The minute the car turned the corner,

I was on the telephone, completely

misbehaving. “Come over, Chase.” Now?

“Right now.” Where’s your mom?