Rbergeso's Journal

Priorities

"There's blood under the snack machine!"

someone shouts, and he wakes up.

Steps into the pool house and sure enough

red droplets are falling in a puddle.

He tells Lucy and the boy with the fucked

up nose, "Get the other kids out of here" -

The key turns, door opens,

A mouse is twisted lifeless in steel

workings, eyes bulging.  It's mouth

is twisted in a sarcastic smile, as if to say

"Man, you really caught me with my pants

down.  Can I get a little help?" 

He reaches through two layers

of paper towel.  As he squeezes, bits

of yellow plastic fall from it's mouth.

"Christ, he's puking!" the boy screams.

Tiny bites have been stolen from the wrapper

of a Clark bar.  You were close, little buddy-

he thinks as he squeezes harder, trying to pry

him out.  A snap cruch later, he's free.

The body is tossed in the garbage, and it ends.

But hours later, alone in darkness, he wonders -

That mouse must have understood futility.

So which direction was it struggling

when that fragile body gave up

and it's tiny stomach dropped onto the tile?