Driving down dirt roads
Ten miles per hour over the speed limit
Oops
Slowing down
Tapping my foot to my new depression playlist
Tears
Not quite strong enough to cry
Stuck behind my eyes
“How much harm can he do in four years?”
“A lot,” Caroline quietly interrupts.
I believe her
She knows about politics
The tears are ready to come out now
I suck my thumb instead
My class will understand
I haven’t sucked my thumb since
Wednesday November 9th 2016
In the gender neutral bathroom
I cry
I’m too old to be a cockeyed optimist
Someone says hi
My old English teacher
“How are you?”
he asks
I consider telling the truth
Just for today
He must be feeling the same way
My training takes over though
“Good, how are you?”
He must be able to tell from the clear tear tracks
And my red tainted eyes
That I’m lying
“I’m ok,” he calmly replies. “I’m looking for my dog.”
“What kind of dog do you have?”
“She’s a black lab. You've probably seen her around here before.”
“Yeah, I think I have.”
He turns to walk one way
I turn the other
“Well, I tried,” he sighs.
I’m not sure we’re talking about the dog anymore.
Posted in response to the challenge Post-Election.
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