Gretchen

I look for some graph paper

so I can finally work

on our game a little bit,

but I find Gretchen’s number

in my backpack, pushed

between the jacket fold

of Mysterious World.

I dial the number.

Hello? she answers in her scratchy,

freckled voice. Hello?

Hello, I say. This is Ari, um, Lisa’s friend?

I am so nervous.

I know who you are, she says.

She laughs immediately,

like my voice is the voice

she’s been waiting for all morning.

I feel my body sit straighter,

my mind ease. We talk,

and it’s good.

I can’t stop talking.

I tell her about things

I did in these few days I’ve been here.

I tell her truth mixed with untruths.

I tell her about how my dad left.

Oh my god, she says. I’m so sorry.

I tell her other things.

I’ve been riding my bike

all the way to Pier 39,

over to the arcade.

I played some basketball

down by the Marina.

I bought a bunch of new comics.

Do you read comics? I ask.

No, she says, but I want to.

I don’t tell her how much

I stare into the mirror,

guarding my body against

gaining any more weight back

or how I’m starting to wonder

if I have to stay on this diet forever.

When I stop talking,

her voice is a waterfall.

She tells me about how she thinks

in high school she might become an artist,

and how she is trading Quiet Riot for Prince.

because he’s so rad.

Before we hang up,

she makes me promise

to call her back in a few days.

I promise, and then I ask her,

Have you talked to Lisa?

You totally like her, she says.

Gretchen laughs into the phone

and her laugh makes me laugh too.

Lisa’s totally awesome,

but so am I.

Just wait till we meet.