Joelene

Eric's back was turned

when I went 'round the back.

Past the rubber pool.

And the chicken coop.

And the old swings.

And the ponds of

slime-green water.

And he had one hand on his waist.

The other holding a phone to his ear.

And as I was about

to call out to him, he spoke:

"Yeah, I miss you too.

Can't wait for this war to be over

so we can see each other again.

I love you."

Then he kissed through the phone

and laughed.

And my heart popped,

and I stepped back,

and my shoe pressed

on a piece of stick.

And he looked back

and saw me

with my bent lips

and big, watery eyes.

And his eyebrows

pulled together:

"it's not what it looks like."

But I turned around

and ran off.

He was fast.

He held me

as I was about to break

the corner.

I caught a glimpse of Jenna

and Mamaw,

and a teardrop slipped down

my cheek

as Eric pulled me

behind our big cherry tree.

I cried and kicked.

"Shh, shh. Hey, hey..."

He was trying to shut me up,

so they wouldn't hear.

"Take your pervy hands off me!"

I screamed and broke away.

I said pervy so he'd feel hurt.

He was no pervert.

If anyone was the pervert,

it was me. I was flashing him

at any chance I got.

The man got eyes; he'll look.

I turned to face him

and he took a step back.

His face softened.

"Joelene. Listen,

it's not what you're thinking."

"It is. You have a girl,

don't you?" I demanded.

"That was no 'girl'."

He was acting cautious

and delicate.

Like he was afraid I'd yell:

"Eric touched me!

He kissed me!

He's done things to me behind your backs!"

No doubt,

Papaw would have

murdered him.

For touching

his babygirl.

"Please, look,

it's my mom."

He came close to me cautiously,

and I dropped my eyes

to see the ID: Mom.

Oh.

I sniffled,

feeling shame.

And Eric smiled

at my forfeit.

And then he came closer

and hugged me.

"Don't worry, squirt.

It's just me and you..."

And I believed.

Because this was all consent.

So it had to be right. Right?