Off you g
Click Clack Click Mrs. Whalen’s heels echo down the long dark corridor of my mind she is holding my hand too tight walking too fast as I slip and slide beside her earlier, I stood at the end of our driveway nametag pinned on light green pinafore sunlight bouncing off ivory buttons my mom pacing watching for the bus that never came air draining slowly from kindergarten’s first day long shiny car pulls up blinding yellow like the sun nosey neighbor, Mrs. Whalen leans out, nails tap-tap on hot waxed metal rescue words exchanged Don’t worry I’ll take her Hurry up Get in Wave goodbye mom frantically waving two toddlers by her side as noisy car speeds off disappearing in a dizzying blur my heart is racing forward lurch and lunge screeching to a stop rush rush rush through schoolhouse doors Mrs. Whalen’s heels echo-roar while I hang on slip sliding down tile buffed to a shine in ink black leather Mary Jane’s rap rap rap on heavy door tap tap tap her toes count time Sister Bernadette with her scowl of welcome lets the door swing wide rosary and wimple mocking holy words exchanged Neighbor child Very late I don’t know Take a seat Now off you go Mrs. Whalen lets go my hand shadows fall 'cross silent rows quick retreat now echoes soundly click clack click down empty hall
