i pushed the window up in school

to get the stink of leanora sutter out of the classroom

where miss harvey brought her to show off

a dance from last week’s

recital.

mr. caldwell

chuffed his arms,

faked a shiver,

ramped the sash back down

saying the day was too cold to leave a window open.

leanora sutter

turned and stared through me

that witchy girl

with those fuming eyes

she meant to put a curse on me.

she meant to.

i left school right then.

no amount of air will get the smell of her

out of my nose,

the soot of her out of my eyes.