Hard Sun pt 12

[inkandblink]

 "I don't know why you're doing this..."

Ms.Cense is a bright presence, like sparklers,
like the delicious thrill of holding an illegal firework between
pointer and thumb,
letting it go off,
the smell of powder and fire almost
almost
singeing the skin,
but the sparkles are too weak, too white bright
instead of burn-blue.

Too small to damage,
so bright, washing out the rest of the world,
blinding you to the people around,
admiring your courage,

at allowing a sparkler to burn in your hand.

"I followed the officer--"
He's nowhere to be found and I'm about to search,
for the little piggy.

But Ms.Cense puffs up.
"Then why are we here?
"What do we have to do with him?!"

I grin, shark sharp shah-shah-shah.

Ms.Cense is still squinting in the sunlight.
Or is she measuring me up?

"Come. Let's sit down and talk, for God's sake don't--"

The loud whine and whoop of sirens interrupt her intervention.