So Hard

I was led into the room without introductions. With only twelve in my year at primary school, everyone knew everyone. But I didn’t know myself. I thought I was an astronaut.

Seeing the other two in my remedial class, I thought, Am I one of these?

They were Sharon Specs and Simple Simon. So hard accepting that I belonged in a group I’d ridiculed. Embarrassing being near them.

Months later, I was the only one needing extra classes. Then I’d discover I wasn’t really like Sharon and Simon. They were smarter.

I had to orbit Earth alone in my daydreams.

From Guest Contributor Duncan Bourne

Driver’s Ed

If you slow down for a yellow light, the cops will write you a ticket. Of course, if you blow through the light, they’ll write you a ticket for that, too. Half the drivers resist but soon give up, half try to hide. I didn’t believe my friends when they first told me. Then people started collapsing due to the stress of the situation. I’d seen rockets explode on liftoff, coyotes violate dogs. Yet I didn’t expect this at all. Our lives are just daydreams in a dead landscape. It’s now a crime in Utah to harass cattle with drones.

From Guest Contributor Howie Good

Howie is on the pavement, thinking about the government.