Pride

Jennifer was a Ninth Grade Gothic, curtains

of black hair shielding her heavily lined eyes,

but by senior year she’s been Born Again.

She sits across from me in 5^th period English,

and tells me about her friend Lauren.

“She likes girls and she’s proud of it.”

Jennifer’s unlined eyes lock onto mine.

“And she’s got a crush on Mrs. Cook.

Weird, right? Not ‘cause Lauren’s a lesbian.

‘Cause Mrs. Cook is a teacher.

I think it’s weird. A crush on a teacher.”

I tell her I think it’s weird and

the conversation ends.

I pick up Heart of Darkness and stare

at the yellowing pages,

pretending to read while I think

about Mrs. Cook’s lips.