Durham High School - Messenger Yearbook (Durham, NC)

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OH MY AMERICA by CiinJon Pyne Oh my America the beautiful. from sea to shining sea, 1 see John F. Whatshisname Memorial Spitoons; and polyvinyl plastic crusifix pillows (Souvenir of Niagara Falls.) You are the home of the Free and The land of the Brave. From Grenada, Mississippi to Harlem. So here I sit in my split-level school With its new football helments. And write about it. 19

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What about the others? All I do is waste her time. That ' s fairness, is it? Phoebe looked up again, expectantly. Allison was not smiling. That ' s not what I said. You have to decide if you ' re going to go on seeing her or not. And then don ' t worry about the others. They can take care of themselves. Phoebe stared at her hands, turned them over, inspected them. Do you think it ' s all right? Being so fond of a teacher and all? I said not to worry about the others. I don ' t mean the others, interrupted Phoebe standing up. I mean you, Allison. Do you think it ' s fair? Phoebe stood up even with her. Sunlight flashed on Allison ' s spectacles. Allison turned her face from the sun. Phoebe could not see her face. If you want ... I have other friends. If you want a teacher for one of yours. I ' ll stand behind you. You ' re fortunate, you know, having a teacher for a friend. Allison turned into the glare of the sun, spectacles flashing. She smiled. I envy you some¬ times. Phoebe said nothing. Allison smiled again. I ' m going home for lunch; call me if you want to. Phoebe nodded and watched her disappear down the quadrangle to the road that led back to their neighborhood. She picked up the swimming bag from the ground and uncrumpled it. The sun moved from behind a cloud. She watched the library entrance with shaded eyes and hoisted the bag to her shoulders and stood. The breeze stiffened and the magnolia trees, clumped around the entrance to the library, parted their foliage like a child searching in the grass for Easter eggs. The lawn had been freshly mowed and had a cleaner look about it than when she had come to swimming practice early that morning. Phoebe wanted to take her shoes off and go running bare¬ foot through it. She kicked off one shoe and stood balanced on the pavement. She slipped her foot out of the other one. A woman appeared from the arched entrance under the magnolia trees and walked towards the blinker light and the bench beside the bus stop. Phoebe had grass in her shoe. She saw the teacher sitting alone on the marble bench under the yellow light winking. She was wearing the green dress. Then Phoebe stuck her shoes back on with the grass still in them and started walking back down the hill after Allison. And she was counting objects and things in her mind.

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—Alex Tanford Hello little brownmouse living, existing, In a broken rock wall. Scurrying here, there, noplace Aimless intention on being something else. Fool! You will always be A little brownmouse, for ever and ever, anyway. You wouldn ' t like it here. Here, in the autumn world Of human reality Of twisted emotions That make no sense. Maybe one day You and I can trade places. At least for a little while. 20