As Steven entered the computer lab where he cursed a mindless machine a few weeks ago the next second the clicking of keyboards stopped while the students waited to see what would happen. He thought we all knew where he had been and what he had done, but—except for me who heard from a friend of a friend—they likely knew nothing nor wanted to know what he had been up to.
After being dumped under the interstate with the homeless Steven was able to confirm his identity, change his locks and get a new phone. This left him at a point—actually any point on that turning carousel would do—when he had an opportunity to change his mind and follow through by jumping off the merry-go-round.
I don’t know what happened to Steven beyond that point being more interested in my future wife sitting next to me rather than either the assignment on the monitor or Steven’s future antics. I sometimes wondered about him, though, wishing him the best, but only sometimes since both of us, grandma and grandpa now, have had plenty of merry-go-rounds of our own we didn’t want to jump off of even when we knew that was the only way.
______
Denise offers the word “second” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.
This is the final story in a four part series about Steven circling back to the computer lab. After the lab it followed Steven to the caverns of a little Babylon. Last week Steven found himself dumped in a homeless camp under an interstate. Today, we are back in that computer lab long, long ago when your grandfathers were dating your grandmothers and your father and mother were still a twinkle in their eyes.
There is also a poetry slam going on this week at the café. I asked Steven if he would like to participate. Unfortunately, he agreed. Here’s his poem.
Hello. My name is Steven.
I like running my mouth as much as
the next guy
especially that guy,
Frank,
who thinks he knows
what happened to me
in those caverns
the second some nosy, UNRELIABLE
source who NEVER!!!! liked me
in the FIRST place offers
a tall tale explaining
why I wasn't in class.
What Frank doesn't KNOW
is I was out saving a damsel
IN DISTRESS!!!!
——— yeah, that's right ———
from the very DRAGONS of Blislisnis
HE PUT THERE HIMSELF!!!!
He forgot to mention that.
Of course, he'd forget to mention that.
I plead the Fifth Amendment on any probing question about those dragons.
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 
Beyond a certain point we are more interested in our own lives than that o o f other casual acquaintances.
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That’s true. Thank you, Sadje!
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You’re welcome Frank
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“Unfortunately, he agreed!”😆
👏
Let’s hear it for Steven!
Because, Frank, as the sign of the SSC&B reads:
“…there is more to this story.”
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He certainly has a different side to the tale. Thank you, Nick!
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I like the way you tell Steven’s tale, the reminiscing… but Steven’s poem suggests he remembers things differently, whole other tone there! Nicely done double!
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This was a double six. Steven’s side was very different. Thank you!
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Like this Steven guy.
His poetry reads the way I was trying to do in my Six (after watching some realworld Poetry Slams), convey an out-loud, emotional voice.
(Liked the Six as well. Thing I wonder sometimes, how is people from our past managed to insinuate themselves so effectively into what should be fiction?
lol
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Steven would do well at poetry slams. I kind of wonder what he was up to in those caverns. Thank you, Clark!
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Very nicely done, from “both sides of the aisle,” so to speak.
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Even Steven got his chance to give his side of the story. Thank you, Mimi!
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Steven’s poem is great! Bet he had a blast performing it. Here’s to his finding his way back solid ground.
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I think he enjoyed writing it. Thank you, Denise!
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His circle is complete. That’s quite a poem, seems you learned something from it too!
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Hopefully all of us jump off those merry-go-rounds that go nowhere of value. Thank you, Keith!
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Circles have no beginning and no end. And stories will never come to one conclusion. And of course Steven would disagree with another’s perspective of his life. There is only One judge. Thanks Frank!!!
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Good point, Mary: there is only One judge. May we receive His mercy.
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Steven’s poem was great! I enjoyed how he was able to expand on his story through it.
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I am glad you liked his poem. It was a chance for one of my characters to get even with me. Thank you, Nicole!
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