Sub Assignment #1154845

I walk into “C-9.” The lights are off. Only three kids are present. A boy is sitting on a yellow coral-textured exercise ball. There’s another one that’s red. For whatever reason, I’m reminded of a looner room. Natural light is streaming in through one of the windows, but it’s being obscured by something.

            the lights stay off
            but the kids
                          turn on
            and off

The room looks like it’s already been stripped for the year. The only decorations left are the various postcards taped around the teacher’s desk. Places these kids will never go. Least of all in their heads.

To My (Adopted) Rottie After Several Tall Cans

O my buddy
I love you Buddy
you’re the best buddy

pet pet pet
pit pat pat
PAT PAT PAT

Teddy you’re a teddy
bear a killer
boy

You like it when I scratch you there Buddy?
How ’bout here?
Oh yeah you like that boy

Buddy put that thing away
you’re not gonna get lucky
You’re a virgin
boy
you don’t know what to do with that

gulp gulp gulp


’eddyboy

Teddy Boy
look at me.

You’re a killer
boy

You hear me boy?

Aren’t you glad they didn’t
trim this off?

shake shake shake

You like wagging your nub Buddy?
Are you happy Buddy?

Why’d you kill those chihuahuas?
Huh boy?
Were they tantalizing Buddy?
Were they taunting you boy?
How ’bout the boxer?
Did you wanna kill him too?
Did you Buddy?

Would you have
if we hadn’t ganged up on you?

Did you just get too tired
the second time?

My dad said you pulled him in
by the muzzle
and swept the dirt
with him.

Is that true boy?

gulp gulp gulp


You’re old now Teddy

a dusty old bear.

Are you incontinent?
Is that why I caught you
lifting your leg
in my room that time?

Is that why you flinch
sometimes
when I go to pet you?

Do you fear me Buddy?

Sit down boy

Teddy
sit!

Let me see
has your nail started to grow back?

Are your paws still
extra sensitive boy?

That’s okay
you can growl if you want

but if you ever bite me

I’ll put you
down

suicide awareness

suicide awareness
on the digital display
I think about it