Woebegone

Jason walked by with one a them winking looks on his face. It wudn't a real wink, but it kinda said the same thing. Not in a scary way, not in a way that makes me wanna tell Nick about it so he'll sleep on the sofa with the baseball bat. It was friendly. Like we could hang sometime. Like we might see a movie or watch a game on TV. Not like he'd try to push me on the bed and stick his hands under my clothes.

Jason lives in a house kinda like mine. It's just a few blocks down, I think. I never been, but Rachel says it's got some real nice green shutters over them plain bricks. I always wanted a house with some nice painted shutters and white lace curtains that blow in the wind. But in my neighborhood, you cain't leave your windows open, so there ain't never any wind.

Jason's got a real nice face. He's lighter than I am -- which makes me wonder why he'd even give me his winking look, because there are a lot of prettier girls who'd a loved to be in my shoes -- with light brown eyes that are really more gray than brown. His hair is kinky like everyone else's, but I don't mind none. He seems like a real nice boy, and I hope he comes round again. If he does, and if he gives me that winking look, I'm a get up and say hello. Offer him some lemonade. Maybe even ask if he wants to go see a movie. I think he might like that.