Dana

I was seven years old and ready to cross the line with her. we didn't just get in the sack, we put on rubber, there were rubbers for everyone. Thirty people, children, students, in all, plus the voyeurs. She was bound, strapped for me. I saw the grassy field and felt my anticipation grow. All the boys and girls paired off and it started. We were pumping hard from the get-go, a machine with three legs. We may have finished before the others, the watchers may have given us the prize. I don't remember much except being so close to her body, arms around shoulders, hips against hips, so excited and nervous, the pounding heart, the ragged breathing, gasping and sweating when it was over.

I write very poor poetry. Pity me and my madness.

Reunion

Right now people I went to school with
are gathered on a golf course
7 hours away
reliving four years of high school
and the ten years since.

I declined the invitation.

They are probably all wishing
that the drinks were cheaper
and that the company was better.

My drinks are cheap enough
and the company here - nobody - is fine.
We have the most interesting conversations
while I write this,
and no one is ashamed of being
in Cincinnati or the Navy
because no one at the table
is in Cincinnati or the Navy.

I'm buying a round for everyone at the table
and you, too.

Drink up.
I have avoided the company of strangers
one more time
and that is cause for celebration
even if this poem isn't.

Sic transit Carmine

Yo Frank-AY!

"Who is this?" The fuck you think it is kaffa, look at my fuckin' avatar you'll know who it is.

Yeah it's Carmine, damn. I'm on the train back. Yo, it was crazy at the club. Vic's brother got jumped.

You know, Vic's brother. Johnny G's neighbor. Check Tommy's page, he's linked up.

Yeah, that guy. Yo, some fuckin' wannabes tried to start shit. They pushed him and took his Goose and we was like yo, dat's our kaffa, you can't do dat shit, you know who we are? We fucked those dudes up, yo.

There was like eight of them. And it was me, Vic's brother, Tommy's cousin, Pauly, Pauly's friend, and Sally's nephew and we fucked'em up.

I know, but my dad's linked Sally since way back so I gotta link his nephew. But he was throwing down on those bitches. He did more than Tommy's cousin, that kaffa was in the bathroom the whole time hanging his keys on some hottie.

Naw, it wasn't no ruffie shit. He got some 'tocin gloss so when the chick kissed him she got dosed. They soak it in and it's like, just trust me, and they do, right? They don't pass out or nothin like that.

Yo, I couldn't get nothin', the bouncers tossed us after the fight. Some fuckin' bullshit, one of them choked Pauly to the door. It was that same prick as last week at the door, too. We tipped him to get in but he wouldn't let us through later. It's like fifty dollars don't buy shit no more, everything's gotta be euros. But shit, that place was full of haters anyway, fuck that. They betta fall back, yo.

Yo what the fuck you lookin' at? I'm not talkin' to you, I'm on my mobe, kaffa. You see me on my mobe, then quit fuckin' listening and move yo ass out before I hit you. I said fuckin' MOVE.

Some fuckin' guy listening over here. I got him, he won't fuck with me again. Hey yo Frankie, I heard you were spreading that requeson from Sammy's.

That dancer at Big Sammy's place, the one with the muslos de requeson.

Your guy told me.

Your guy, that trainer at Bobby's gym. You linked him at Bobby's after-party that time.

Shit, I must have your page cached. Lemme reload that shit.

Fuck no, I won't link him if you don't. I don't know him. Damn kaffa, you delinked all those dudes. You got to tell me when you do that so I can sync with you.

Cause your rank is huge and if bitches see me linked to people that you dropped, they'll drop me. I gotta keep my rank up, yo, I can't get the muslos with no rank. I'd need new keys and everything if that happened, yo.

So you didn't get her spreadsheet?

Damn kaffa, I'm just asking. Damn.

Yeah I might, there's good pussy under that requeson. I heard her shit's all signed organic. She got cream cheese, yo, I'd hang my keys on that shit. Might tweet her after my site maintenance's done.

All that shit, I gots to wax, tan, lift, get more I. I'll be dragonballin' when it's done, yo.

Naw, the Preparation I is some new shit, makes you look more pumped than the H does. I might skip the gym and lift at the shore, get some hottie's public
key. I can check their certificates before rolling to the club, see who to link.

Pauly and everybody's hittin' it again tomorrow. We're going to some oxy bar first. Pauly's friend works there and he said we could maybe get some oh-two at a full discount, the good stuff. Like their tanks might be leaking, right? Tommy's cousin's gonna roll in his new Beem, we'll roll from there to the club. Yo, you coming to the spot?

C'mon, don't be a fuckin' pussy. You weren't with us tonight, you gotta get some muslos on the floor tomorrow. You didn't get nothin' at the shore, you not saving it for that girl at Big Sammy's and there are no hotties that side of the river. You gotta roll with us, balla. We kaffas, right?

Fine, I'll get rid of Sally's nephew if he shows up, okay? You be there?

Aight. I'll get up.

Jenny

Saturday afternoon gives way to night and Jake wonders who she is. It's a small table; He didn't catch the introductions. Maybe it's not that kind of party. Jake says, "She lived across the street. I never met her."

"What was her name?" she asks.

"I never met her. She was almost a year older than me and had dark hair and a sister. I suppose she had parents; most do."

The sun turns down. "Did she ever see you?"

"I can't remember. I think she hugged me. I might have hugged her."

"What happened?"

"She moved away. I almost saw her later, twice. On the phone. They thought it was love and tried to match us. I wouldn't call her. We weren't more than seven, probably not even that old. She died, or will die; most do."

She isn't interested. "You never forget your first."

"First what? I don't remember my first step, first word, first day of school, first book I read. I'd have to think very hard to remember what I had for lunch." Jake raises his glass. "To memories."

"To memories." Clink. "What are those?"

"Burning my hand. Twisting my shoulder. Cracking my rib. Pissing my pants, twice. What's your name again?"

"Did you say something?"

"Nothing yet."