Sure, there were others

before

lonnie-sugar-sweet

from Alabama

with wheat-blond hair

chris-an older man (4th grader)

who protected me

but they were nothing

ooooooh, Brent Pashke

spiky crew cut and watery brown eyes

tons of freckles, dimples when he smiled

we grasped sweaty hands

and held our position

"Red Rover, Red Rover..."

no one could break through us

once he gave me a plastic framed picture of Jesus

as a token of love

and he never threw the faded red rubber ball

too hard at me during dodge ball

I wonder where he is

---CCC '90