Sequinettes 2

In the back of the bus

with the other seniors

for an hour ride

to encourage

football players to

“Whippa Alliquippa”

we discover

I am the ONLY ONE

who knows

every single word

to the Foreigner song

“Juke Box Hero.”

Hairbrush mic

passed to my hand

my name chanted

until I belt out

the most earnest, off-key solo,

Gotta keep on rockin’!

All go wild, and belonging feels

so much better

than being closed

away in my room.

My bus seat squeaks

as I drop back down.

My sister Sequinettes cheer.

My grin stays put

as my seatmate gives my back

a slap of praise

but my mind panics,

flies home to dwell on

beloved ducks,

now buried in our

ever-expanding pet cemetery.

This “Juke Box Hero” moment

is nice but

much too fragile to hold onto.