i. until tomorrow

i rode home from school
on my bike but i wrecked
and crashed into this kid who
started crying. i told him to shut up
but he wouldn't so i hit him until he stood
up and ran away.

i laughed at him but i had to
hurry back home. just before i put my
bike away my mom called to me. she said
i needed to take out the trash so
i threw the sack in the can. our cat was gnawing
at my pants, so i picked her up
and put her in there too. i laughed as i closed the lid.

i watched the next morning
as the trash guy came by and
tossed the can in the back
of his truck. i listened as i heard
the cat meowing just before the
compactor crushed it. i was able
to sleep for a few more hours but
i dreamed of killing her again
so i overslept. my mom got pissed
but i didnt listen to her. i just threw on
my clothes and headed out the door.

i left the door open so a bunch of bugs
went flying in. my mom called back
for me, calling me a disgrace
and a failure, but i laughed on my way
to school. i can't help but feel complete
when i piss her off. i make her cry sometimes
and i start thinking it's my birthday when
she does that, but i have to remind myself that it isn't.

i arrived at school twenty minutes late. my
first class was english, but i told the teacher
that i would accuse him of rape unless he
marked me on time. he told me to take my
seat but i didn't feel like learning so i left
the classroom, but just before i left
i winked at the teacher to make sure he
knew not to try my patience.

instead, i went to the lunchroom. i was
hungry and i told the cook to give me some chips.
when she refused, i told her i'd shoot up the school, and
she looked at me with the startled, dark eyes of an immigrant
and she gave me some chips. she told me to leave immediately,
but i stayed for a few seconds later so she knew
i wasn't a student worth playing around with.

after school, i was riding home again.
i ran into the same kid i wrecked into
the day before, but he looked away from me.
i whistled at him and when he turned, i rode
away and laughed. i got home and my mom
was crying. i thought about asking her for cake
and maybe some candles, but i went
into my room and crashed out.

until tomorrow.