Page 163 of Crank (Crank 1)

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vacation stories

(majorly editing mine),

tried out for honor choir

and actually made it, despite

a voice gone raspy from excess

and mushrooming allergies.

Did my best to absorb

the energy of family,

meals, Sunday church,

and a Labor Day camp out.

And I managed all that,

barely thinking

about the monster

or wondering what

Chase or Brendan or Adam

might be up to.

Until in one fateful day

Adam wrote, Brendan called,

and Chase showed up to drive

me home after school.

Backpack Bulging

I climbed into Chase’s truck,

slid close. “Where ya been?”

We moved to Sparks. I had to transfer.

Solid explanation. Still,

“Why didn’t you call?”

I did. You were grounded. Remember?

That excuse was shakier.

“Not for the last two weeks.”

I wanted to give you some space.

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