"You're not one of them", he says "I can tell, I got this GIFT, see?" The relief clear on his animated face Too twitchy, too... off "They watch us, you know? They got those satellites and **** They'll read your ID through your pocket Then they gotcha!" I nod, only mildly alarmed And throw down my smoke. Step on it to make sure it's out "Only you can prevent forest fires" A childhood echo He picks it up Looks wildly around "Your DNA is on that! Epithelials! I seen it! I seen it on that CSI!" I mumble something His eyes narrow. He laughs too hard. "Kidding man, I'm just kidding" He skitters off, like an ant missing 4 legs I look up, and nod to the ****** on the roof.
~JNc 9-15
This was inspired by Stephen King's "Paranoid: A Chant", a short story/ poem in I think Skeleton Crew. One of my first two "grownup books", along with "Night Shift". My grandma and grandpa had given me a $10 Waldenbooks gift card, for my 10th birthday. I've now read almost everything he has written. Most of his works I've read multiple times. Blew my tender little mind, and I was free.