Kathryn J. Stevens
Cary, North Carolina, USA

Wishful Thinking

"No. I don't want to." Scowling, I lean back against my bedroom window. Twisting the tip of one braid, I suck it into the space left by a recently lost tooth.

my thoughts
rumble round and round . . .
wild-eyed
they ball their fists,
ready for a fight

"Komm, mein' Kleine," Grandmother says, patting the space between her and Raggedy Ann.

I look away. "Won't won't won't."

outside
the sound
of other girls
singing
jump rope songs

Clutching Raggedy Ann, I slide onto the edge of my bed and open my book of nursery rhymes. Grandmother's manicured finger slowly moves from word to word.

I struggle to sound out syllables. Tears drip onto London Bridge.

uncovered
in Grandmother's attic
my battered Mother Goose
wrapped carefully
in dust