Fallout (Crank 3)

myself with more dignity, things

would be different. She claims

I overthink stuff, and maybe

I’m overthinking stuff right now.

Maybe the new guy is just

being nice because we have

to sit next to each other.

Maybe he is smiling at Cherie,

not me at all. Or maybe he is

only smiling because I blushed

like the idiot I am. Or maybe …

Suddenly I notice that the room

is silent, and everyone’s looking at

me. Ms. Carol is up front, taking roll.

Autumn? Are you here, or what?

Now everyone laughs, because

obviously I’m not here,

despite being present. Still, I lie,

“Um. Yes. Here.” I slump down into

my seat, but once everything goes

quiet, I chance a glance at the new

guy, too cute in a leather bomber.

He’s still smiling. Definitely at me.

TIME

Slows to a crawl, each grain of sand

in the hourglass suspended

midair before finally

dropping through.

American history

isn’t the most