Burning Sage

Chapter 1: Hanging Brain

The warm, pink sunset hung over the horizon; a heavenly sight to behold as it smeared through the North Dakota sky. I was staring out the car window, zeroing my eyes into the lovely sky, when momma asked me for what seemed like the hundredth time, "Who's your prom date Sage?"

Mother knew my date. She'd seen her plenty of times. I continued to look out, trying to ignore her. Everything was fine until she slammed on the brakes and pulled over on the wayside. My heart sank. Momma glared at me, and tried cracking me down like one of America's most wanted. Eventually, I caved in. "Maple, she's in your-"

"In my stinkin class, I know who she is. Why her?" Momma started up the car again, "I hate her. Why do you have to go with her? She's a pain in the ass."

And then I sat there, chin to fist, articulating a comfortable reason. Ten months with someone is a long time, especially to some 17 year old. I loved her to simply put it... she made me feel like a three dollar bill. But really, Maple kept me going through a dark time. It was either her or living like a prisoner.

I wanted Maple to be my best friend, and like my Mom in a way. But not too much like my Mom, because she divorced my dad when I was young. I lived with him till his well deserved death last year.

Nobody knew I killed my Dad, not even my little brother who was there when it happened. The cold case was an elision of poor investagating and dumb luck. I shouldn't have gotten away with it. Nobody should get away with killing people. It's a godly feeling that is inspired by the devil, but killers stay silent, and everyones afraid of the silence.

I was better than that so I gave my life to God. He calmed my savage soul. It was made very clear from the wise men at church that God plays fair. God keeps secrets from the nosy, and the Bible throws them for a whirl. Nobody truly wants to give up their life and pray for a safe-haven when it's all over, but I do because when this life is over, I'll have a chance.

"Why her damn-it? That girl ain't nothing but looks and you know it-"

"She cares for me." But like the sinking ship me and Maple were, I spent much more time spooning the water out of our lives then her. If we ever did sink, she'd be just fine. Blondy was short tempered with a yellow flare; it's in her DNA to pull you in. Everyone would see that flare if we sunk, even my mother. But I had feral likeness to the girls who fought back. The ones that could brand you with a red-hot iron and act like they owned you.

Mother turned on the heat in the car, "She obviously doesn't care about her grade in my class. She has a D in there, she don't listen-"

"Not the only D she's getting." I joked with a hearty laugh. It was the awkward elephant in the room. Maple was really pretty, my figment of a fantasy. Sometimes I'd be disgusted with myself, other times, I wondered the world and back about her loyalty. Deep down inside I was a good person. I just couldn't show it all the time, and for that reason, I ranked high on the asshole list.

Mother groaned and sighed, "Uh, where did I go wrong with you."

"When you left me with dad."

"Shut up, just shut up Sage. I don't want you talking about him." She gripped the steering wheel with an angry pulse, "I don't know why guys always act like fools."

"Me." I paused, "A fool?" "I'm serious Sage, don't make yourself look like an idiot at your prom. You only get one of those." "Four if you go every year." I noted. Momma pulled into the front of the school and parked the car. "Only a hoe would do that Sage? Are you a hoe?" I was a little nervous, not about being a hoe, but about going to prom. It's not the thought of Maple, or her agonizing friends that didn't like me all too well, but the lights - They're designed to make you feel like an airhead.