Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions (Wicked Lovely 5.50)

out loud to himself.

A girl with blond pigtails

sucking a green lollipop

bends over to slip tokens into a driving game.

Her jean shorts ride up,

giving a glimpse of pink underwear.

I step up next to the game.

“Sorry to interrupt,

but I need a huge favor.”

She plops her teeny ass

into the driver’s seat

without so much as a twitch

at my voice

or my semifamous face.

As she starts to play,

I wave my hand between her and the screen.

She holds the wheel steady,

pressing the accelerator,

sucking the lollipop,

which twists her muttered curses

into drunk-sounding slurs.

I step back.

Survey the crowd.

Try not to panic.

Above us,

a banner stretches the length of the arcade,

The best week ever logo

frames the words

Congratulations, Class of—

“Damn it.”