Page 16 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Reason To Sing

I don’t like hiding back here in the trees. Why are we here?
We’re too far away from the house. There’s nothing back here,
only the rusty old farm machinery. And this icky mattress on
the ground. Why is this outside? It’s gross. It’s stinky and wet,
and all lumpy. And it has horrible brown stains. Why does it
smell like old pee? I didn’t pee, honestly I didn’t! Why do I
have to lie on it? And there’s something digging into my back.
It’s hurting me.
You’re too big. Jimmy. You’re way too tall. You’re crushing
me. You’re hurting me so much. You can’t lie on top of me like
this. You have to get off me. You’re going to kill me!
Why aren’t you listening to me? Why won’t you tell me
what’s going on? Why is everything so quiet? I don’t want to
cry but I can’t help it. Please don’t cover my mouth.
I don’t want to touch you. I hate when you force me to
touch you. Please don’t make me touch you. There. Especially,
not there. Your skin feels so soft and smooth, just like a baby’s.
But you’re not a baby, Jimmy. Why are you making me do this?
Why are you breathing so heavy? Why is this taking so long
this time?
Jimmy please, stop groaning! Don’t hurt me.
Oh. There it is. That warm sticky mess all over my belly. I
hate that smell. It makes me gag. I feel sick. Get off me!
Finally! You’re listening to me. It’s over. It’s finally over. I
am so glad it’s over. I can breathe. I can finally breathe now.
Thank God, it’s over. Thank God, I can finally breathe again.
Now I’m cold. So very cold. It’s so icky and wet. Get this stuff
off me. Hurry. Please Jimmy, get this stuff off me.
Oh no. Not the poplar leaves again. The poplar leaves hurt
me almost as much as you do. They scratch my skin. They feel
awful. I used to like the poplar leaves. The way they smelled.
Now I don’t like them anymore. At least all the mess is gone.

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