Michael's Lullabye

 Michael's on his bicycle.

 I don't think I've ever seen him

 walking on two legs.

 Two wheels, feet pedaling

 seeing nothing

 but managing not to get run over

 or fall into a ditch.

 I don't mean he's blind.

 He's just...

 ...

 not here.

 I guess you could say...

 he's got his own world.

 I don't know why.

 Wait...I sort of do.

 Listen. He's singing.

 Listen to him sing.

 He doesn't have a bad voice.

 Not really.

 It's kind of

 soothing

 fading in and out

 Michael's bicycle lullabye.

 Could he sing like that,

 riding down the road

 not caring who hears him

 in our world?

 I don't think so.

 You see his clothes?

 His baggy tan coat

 that reaches his thighs?

 The beat-up boots

 and the black garbage bag

 he uses for a backpack?

 Think he could wear that

 in our world?

 No.

 And...maybe in his world

 little girls don't die in car accidents

 and the police don't take your children from you

 because

 you're

 different.

 What does Michael need with our world?

 He's got his own, and it's ten times better.

• 1 of 1