Neil Bogard was Going Down

I didn't like the fact that I had no choice in being
vulnerable.
I wanted to clear things up.
I was the
bitch.
Just because my parents made me stay at his
house.
Just because he saw my Gerber Plastic Pull on
Pants?
Just because I secretly longed to play chase with him
at recess?

So what if I thought that the little mole
on his left cheek was cute.
or that I liked that his head
loomed over his body like a parade float on a
toothpick.

So what if I laughed at the nasally way
he spoke, like he always had a cold, or like he was coming down from a
helium high.

So what that I liked his Wrangler jeans
because I had a pair that used to be my big
brothers.

HE was NEIL BOGARD.

He
always had more pink in his teeth when
we ate the plaque
tablets during the Crest sponsored "Oral Hygiene"
month.



He had clammy hands that
he always tried to grab me with, coating my arm with the film of a
dried orange dum-dum.

I was certain, HE HAD TO KNOW
about my Gerber plastic pull on pants!!

And
so?
NEIL BOGARD WAS GOING DOWN!

I stood
behind him casually at the water fountain.
He actually winked
at me before stepping up for a sip!

Just when he
turned?
I drew my hand back, Elbow bent? fingers curved?the
butt of my hand aimed?

As young Neil leaned in,
eyelashes innocent
water chilled
cascading
upwards
mouth pursed for that first delicious
sip?

POW!
Right on the cowlick at the back
of his fat first grade head.

His face thrust
downwards.
A small piggish squeal escaped before he lifted his
head
hand to mouth
red dripping from between his
meaty little boy fingers.

His words were
muffled.
I could see the sadness of the betrayal he felt I had
committed.
"You SPIT My YIP!"

Neil Bogard
liked me.
He may have even thought he loved me.
But
as a strong willed first grader?
I had a reputation to
uphold?

And Neil Bogard
Did after all know
about my Gerber plastic pants?

So I took Neil Bogard
down.