by Angel Zapata
The quarter sat face-up on the schoolyard ground. I squatted beside it, stared into Washington’s eye. I had expected to pick it up and be done with it, but then it spoke to me.
“I’ll make him stop hurting you,” it said.
I took it back inside the school; found Lucas alone in the second floor bathroom. He didn’t anticipate me turning the table, didn’t see me until I’d already pinned his shoulders down with my knees; pried open his mouth.
The newspapers printed his death as an ‘accidental choking’.
The coins in my pocket can barely contain their laughter.
Author bio: Angel Zapata knows money talks. His published and upcoming poetry and fiction can be found at Bewildering Stories, Devilfish Review, The 5-2: Crime Poetry Weekly, Microw, and Mused: Bellaonline Literary Review. Visit him at http://arageofangel.blogspot.com/
This is a wonderful commentary on schoolyard bullying, but with such an eerie twist.
ReplyDeleteThat final line really packed a punch. Really well written. :)