One (Sarah Crossan)

Among Wolves

You will not be thrown to the wolves,’

Mrs James, the principal, says,

and presents Yasmeen—

a student to be our guide,

‘and friend …

for a while,’ Mrs James says.

Mom and Dad look relieved,

as though this girl with a conspicuous hot pink

bob and

skinny wrists

could fend off more than a moth.

‘Holy cow!

You guys are amazing!’ Yasmeen says,

without looking sickened,

which is, I think,

a pretty good start to the day.

And what she’s said

is true.

It is amazing we survived

the womb.

Amazing we didn’t die

at birth.

Amazing we’ve lived as long as

sixteen years.

But I don’t want to be amazing.

Not here.

I want to be as boring as everyone else

though I don’t tell Yasmeen this.

I smile and Tippi says, ‘Thanks,’

and we follow our tiny

pink-haired defender along the hallway

to class.