Remembering Jamie

Remembering Jamie

Three inches above my right wrist,

a jagged, crescent scar---

white, indented,

a flat worm just below the skin

My last year

teaching high school, my last

year of Jamie

behind long blonde hair, grinning his

pimply grin. Hey Simp.

It was Hey Simp---

Hey Simp,

the way he'd done nothing

but eye Becky,

whisper propositions that sent her

cringing to the other side of the room,

the way he'd slump into his seat,

legs thrust into the aisles,

crotch open,

his open-mouthed stare,

his knowing I was bound by law

not to kick him in the groin,

these had made me,

when the window stuck,

pop it with my open palm

like always, only a little harder,

thinking, Hey Simp,

And I jerked back,

a crooked, bloody gash

spewing red on the desks,

two front row girls screaming,

running out,

and Jamie sliding up,

Ooh Simp!

his stupid grin

carved unmistakably

into my right forearm.