In Mrs. Parkman’s English class,

my eyes

stay glued

to the cold desk.

---

Who sits next to me?

I don’t know,

haven’t seen.

---

I don’t listen much;

my page stays blank,

my pencil untouched.

---

Then Mrs. Parkman says

it’s time for a story.

---

A what?

---

A story

she says.

---

We aren’t babies,

someone mutters

to the delight of his neighbors.

---

Oh but this isn’t a story for babies,

she says.

---

This is a story for you.