You passed the test

Todd Duncan Tennyson

Well-known member
we live in the heart of big timber country

every fall
it catches ablaze

places named “happy camp” are infernal
how folks could ever be happy there
i do not know

the whole place burns down every year



guys smoke jump and battle impossible hills
hornets nests

and rattlers
poison oak

sweat and confusion


it is a war, only nobody is parting your hair with lead
but you still have to run for your life

the fighters

they come to the little restaurant that me and anya have


I feed them and they are are appreciative
"you boys need to wash up some, go on and try to mop it towards the drain” I say

they are hungry and battle hardened



When I was a Jr at S Medford HS, we had a mighty fire season

Lots of us were on the line


they excused us from school to fight


It was dirty and damned near impossible terrain
flames scooped up around us

it was very nearly as though we were in hell



only, we had a chance to fight the flames back
we had a moment where we could crush it
to save our haven.

so we did

and the sun glowed deep angry red
the smoke filled us all

we coughed and cried irritated tears


but we beat that fire



and saved our oasis


Mrs Barlow let me skip my algebra test.
She said, "Todd, you are all smokey, and have dirty creases in the lines on your face."

I said, "Yeah, I am sorry, I meant to wash up better before class, but I knew we had a test today."


I was dog tired, and she could tell.

Algebra was terribly difficult for me.

She put her hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye
"you passed the test Todd, now get cleaned up" she said.

"Yes Ma'am, Thank you" I said.
I never looked back once.
 
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