That day by Autumn Wurstle

That day

by Autumn Wurstle

I wore my new blue corduroy skirt

and my sister's too big sweater with my shiny

black church shoes

(my mother didn't know)—

a freckled red-haired boy kissed my legs

as I raced up the jungle gym. He tried

to catch me, but I was too fast.

I knew what happened if you were

caught and how the boys, laughing,

dragged you inside the cold concrete

tunnel, where-out of the teacher's

view-they kissed you all over with

wet little boy kisses, not stopping till t

heir greedy lips had their fill.

Then, they ran away

to fight over the swings with the

other boys, leaving you to crawl

out crying, into the garish sunlight,

alone