Page 26 of The Secret to Belonging

pretty much sucks all the time

…

i’d leave too, if i were you

…

i hope you have a terrific time

i really do

… thanks

hope you figure out

you know

all your stuff

he points his finger at you like a pistol

pretends to aim

then pulls himself up off the wall

and shuffles away

you turn the record back on

wonder if peace and quiet and open air

might actually exist

somewhere

you’re allowed two suitcases

two suitcases for a year away

you open them on your bed

stare into your closet

your mother comes in with a huge red parka

and two ski sweaters from Big 5

you’re surprised she doesn’t have snowshoes

and ski poles

when you stuff the parka into a suitcase

there’s hardly room for anything else

on the morning of your flight

June gloom blankets the L.A. basin