IN SCHOOL
Awkward, alone, anxious.
Gene stumbles through the suffocating hallway and trips over the leg
That the girl from his math class lounging by her boyfriend's locker "accidentally" stuck out
Her mocking apology stung his senses as he bit back the tears.
Floundering on the floor, books staggered around
Several pass by, with a smug chuckle rather than an outreached hand
Even a teacher slips a smile.
Gene rushes
Hands flying
Papers scatter
Lurches to his feet and stammers a clumsy response.
Clomps into the cafeteria
And eyes his select seating options
Floor next to garbage can?
Or is today a bathroom stall kind of day
Gene drops his tray on the table with the rest of the misfits
Lets the sauce splatter over his new pressed plaid shirt
Though it had already become untucked and rumpled
And then nods understandingly when they all put their bags on the seats beside them.

WALKING HOME
Peaceful, purposive, parading.
Gene slides through the boarder
Between his prison and everything else
Out of the doors and on his way.
Walking briskly as the autumn air nips at his unclothed face.
Skipping through the piles of leaves
As the leaves scatter just as his books had
Those memories were fresh
But slowly becoming faint
Feet barely keeping up with the rest of him
As he desperately strives to get as far away from here as possible
Approaching the place where everything is okay
Approaching his place.
Gene swings the door open
And saunters inside.

IN THE STUDIO
Balletic, beautiful, becoming.
Gene soars through the air
Gracious body piercing through the space which he flies.
Legs poised perfectly
Toes pointed poetically
Arms placed prominently
His mind and body synchronized
As he leaves the polished ground
And soars through the air
To the tranquil tempo of the slow paced music
He is at home
Where he belongs
Breath steady, eyes closed as he danced around the floor, around his dreams.
If only the kids at school could see him now.