Jacob Lawrence, "Soldiers and Students," 1962
Jacob Lawrence, Soldiers and Students (1962)
Can a Game Be Literature?

Mark's Pages

August 14, 2003:

"I've been afraid of changing
'cause I built my life
around you.
But time makes you bolder
even children get older
now I'm getting older, too."

Backseat, 1980 Ford Mustang. Highway 10 westbound outside San Bernardino. College students on their way to dinner, with the radio on.

Blonde girl, beautiful, the light-up charisma of a magazine model. They grow 'em like that in Ohio. Bright orange Navy jumpsuit worn by aircraft carrier deck crewmen, bought at the local Value Village. "VV's Boutique," she calls it. Slouched in an exaggerated slouch, extra-cool. Passes a joint to the front seat passenger, smiling, beautiful. She's your girlfriend; you're wildly in love.

She sighs. "I think," she says, thinking, "that every woman I've ever known can relate to that song." She sighs, implying, "Isn't it sad, what we go through?"

You say nothing. You'd just been noting how perfectly the song expresses your feelings about her.

The joint passes your way. You take a deep hit. Isn't it sad, what we go through?