SWISS ARMY

At the swan pond

we have throwing bread competition.

I throw most far,

my swan swim

fastest.

I am winner.

‘All right, Nicu, calm down,’ Jess say.

‘I win prize?’ I say.

Jess dig deep into her bag.

‘Here,’ she say, holding big green apple.

    ‘Not exactly a gold medal, but it is a Golden Delicious.’

‘We share it,’ I say.

Jess toss apple high. ‘It’s all yours.’

I catch one-hand. ‘No, we share.’

‘It’s all right, really.’

‘I insisting,’ I say.

I do my own deep dig,

take out my

Swiss Army,

flick open

knife section.

‘Jesus, Nicu,’ Jess say.

‘What? Swiss Army for surviving in wilderness

not for being town hooligan.’

‘Right.’

I chuck Jess piece.

She catch one-hand.

When apple hitting our mouths

we look each other,

we nod each other,

we agreeing.

It true golden moment.

But gold moment like these

always

have black shadow in ceiling,

always

have thick fog in feeling,

always

have wedding and X day in my head.

And I can’t to enjoying our

apple time.