five minutes coming in
(clouds as dark as Grim)
thirty-five going out
but i hold him on the cover
proud as a mother

“still have the ornament”
i tell her
“signature and all”
and it’s like it never rained

she puts my bike in her car
(it fits with drunken maneuvering)
i don’t want the night to be over
(been in a dry county for months)
but we head home

the blue sky beckons in the sunset
three girls as excited
as the inebriated reunion at the bar
yelling their no-rain song
to the unforgiving sky

i sit across from him
legs interlaced
(“they’re on a date”—four-year-old)
and display my magazine cover
my middle school crush
is now famous

he reads the article
interest piqued
and Mondo’s face grins up
just like in eighth grade
when he wouldn’t wear
the same outfit within a month
i think he’ll win
(he’s already won)