By Walter Agnew Moore II,

So my name is Franklyn Thomas, I'm 19, I'm not from here, I just moved here from Missouri. Vicki is her mom, Lashae's mom. Yeah, I helped them both move down here from Missouri, and I stayed, because I loved Lashae. I still do. And you know what? We broke up two weeks after I got set up here in Selma, Alabama.

I understand. Lashae's only 17. She got back here with her old friends, and boom. We're still tight, like this, me and her. Hell, I even still live with them, her and her mom.

I got a job here in the Fish Place. Most popular bar in Selma. Best white bar, that is. I wash dishes. I like it. Nobody on my case, and it's 6 dollars an hour. I hate that sink though. Clogged on me three times last shift.

The tall dude who works at that store by our trailer is playing darts with me and Saul (he owns the Fish Place) and Vicki, Lashae's mom. Vicki is really dancing. This dude sells me my cigarettes. Anyway he said he understands about me and Lashae and how it must suck, he had the same thing happen in Virginia. Now if I can hit the bull, me and Saul will close out this game of Cricket.

The downtown bars are closing, and everybody is coming in, consoling Saul on his recent breakup. Hell, I could have told you his buddy Terrell was a back-stabber, but he didn't want to hear it. None of my business. So it's the usual crowd getting drunk at the end of the bar and all gossiping about somebody who isn't here. Then somebody'll run off and tell that person what they all said. Week in week out. I'd rather watch the game.

Sure, it bugs me about me and Lashae not working out. I could say it doesn't, but what do you think? I moved all the way here from Missouri.

But I know why I did it. I know who I am, and what I want. And I hate that sink when it clogs.