Long Sticks Are Often Useful

by Cheryl Anne Gardner

It was just lying there by the side of the road next to a mailbox, pockets turned out, weeds kinda rolled flat around it. I counted three nickels, a dime, and a cigar butt too. I could sure use the change for gum, but I didn't want to get near it. It looked dead, but it just might have been drunk. I don't know anything about dead bodies or drunks. I'm only ten. Some other kids say they'd touched one once: A dead girl. Touched her boobies and everything.


I figure they're lying. We're only ten.