Beside the Swing Set

Julie had a thousand freckles the

color of mud.

Instead of smiling she would

crinkle her nose

and bunch them

all up in the top half

of her face.

She and I traced shapes in the sand.

Puckered tight lips and kissed.

until Mrs. Baker

found us.

I had drawn a cow and

some grass in the sand

and Mrs. Baker

said we needed to behave

like good Christians.

She said to go on and play with the others.

Some kids were planning a rock fight

And we thought that would be fun.