Joelene

I lay in bed.

One French braid done,

one half done.

Then I felt the mattress dip.

“Jo, Joelene.”

“Elene.”

“Jo-Jo.”

Then two big hands

on my skinny back:

“Joelene?”

“Come on, Squirt...”

I flew up

and frowned at him.

“Do not call me that!”

The sound of Papaw’s old truck

hummed out front,

then rattled through the gate.

My parents were leaving

for the market

As they would always do

on Saturdays.

Leaving me alone

with Eric.

He knew too.

So, he smiled

like a fox.

“You’re stuck with me,

little lamb.”

“Could you stop calling me

those stupid names?”

I all but snapped.

The sun was out, bright as ever.

And Eric eyes looked like sea weeds.

And his scent was intoxicating weed.

And I could smell it on his breath.

Weed and something else.

And he leaned in and smiled.

“What should I call you then?

Bunny?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t call me anything...”

Ignoring him, I reached for

my passion lip gloss.

I spread it over my mouth.

Eric looked there, then sighed, and sat.

He looked like a stranger.

He was a stranger.

I barely knew the man.

He barely knew me.

Yet, he kissed me.

Did older people behave this way?

I’m naïveté, wrapped in a pretty pink box

with a red bow.

He smiled. “Listen.

She’s not my girl.”

I kept my eyes

on the yellow glittery liquid,

thick

and half-finished in the

pressed-out tube.

My heart was pressed-out

and oozing glittery blood

all over

my dirty-grey carpet.

“Just so you know...”

I smacked my lips together

and confidently began.

Mamaw said being young

is a weapon.

I chose to be a knife.

I wanted to stab Eric

where he stabbed me.

“Your kiss didn’t feel nice.

I lied.

It tasted disgusting.”

Eric didn’t move.

He didn’t react.

There should have been blood

dripping down his chest.

There was none.

His grey button-down

was dry.

His smile stayed on.

And he said:

“If it was...

then let me correct it...”

And he leaned in,

pressed his lips on mine.

This time...

I felt his tongue,

I felt

the stickiness of my lip gloss

against his mouth,

and I felt stars.

Woah...