Fallout (Crank 3)

Hey, kid, good to … He sees …

something. Enough to make him pause.

Montana doesn’t notice. Brendan

just moved back to Sparks. He recently

got out of the army. Four terms in Iraq.

Her voice is filled with pride and

what I think may be affection.

I notice his outstretched hand.

I know I should shake it, but my own

hand is trembling. Instinct tells me

to run. Far away. Don’t look back.

But I have to play this out for sanity’s

sake. So I clench my teeth, will

the quaking to stop. “Good to meet you.”

Autumn

PLANNING A WEDDING

Is supposed to be such a happy time.

Okay, Aunt Cora is not only happy.

She’s downright demented with

happiness. Crazy in love.

I wish I could share her

joy. But I am crushed

by fear. I’ve always lived

with seeds of dread, waiting

to burst forth fruit. Apricots, if

I’m lucky. Peaches, sometimes, or

maybe mangoes. But this time,

the fear seeds have grown into

watermelons. Thick-skinned.

Pithy-fleshed. Weighted