wanderer's dream

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billy//
I own a van. I own a pack of cigarettes. I own a hair tie. I own three packs of underwear and a bucketful of change. I own a book.

I own myself.

I hop out of the van and onto the gravel. It's night and chilly, the sound of crickets in my ear and street lights buzzing like bees. I take out a cigarette and hold it in between my fingers, just to feel close to something. I forgot my coat at Dairy Queen.

The night stretches across the sky. Stars litter the landscape and the moon casts a shy light along my van. A gentle breeze passes by and I'm almost consumed by the nothingness, but then a car speeds by. The highway, no longer an escape for Billy Dwight. I sigh and climb back into my precious blue van and get back on track towards the high school.

Once I get there, I park behind the health building and slip into the back seat, where my covers and pillow lounge. I make myself comfortable and take out my Nokia phone. Un-hackable, un-trackable. I dial the only number I've committed to memory and write my message. I press send and then set the phone on the floor of the van and close my eyes.

Tomorrow I have a Calculus test.

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From: 719-279-3718
To: 404-573-3729
Message:
I'm okay mom. Having fun living with Aunt Christa. Night, sleep tight.
Sent: 12:46 p.m.

[Message not received. The number you are trying to reach is disconnected. This is an automated message from Sprint.]

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