He even guesses my thoughts sometimes.”
“So he’s cute?”
“Not cute.” Cartoon characters are cute. “He’s . . . really manly.
Tall. Strong. He’d lift me out of the wheelchair easily,
no problem.
He’s got brilliant blue-diamond eyes—”
“Not cute, only drop-dead gorgeous?” Chandra squeals.
“Youlikehim, youlikehim, youlikehim.”
“Are you crazy?” I say. “He’s probably thirty years old.
It’s not like that.
Jim’s really nice. That’s all.”
“Don’t get mad.” Chandra giggles. “I’m only teasing.”
She pops a chickpea into her mouth. “Just be careful, okay?
My eldest sister’s been dating a boy on the sly.
A rich boy and not even our same caste.
She said she was flirting for the fun of it,
to pass time until my parents arranged a husband for her.
Now she’s gone and fallen in love with him.
You and your doc—it’s a lot different, I know—but
he’s attractive
and you’re together a lot.
Don’t lose your head over the wrong guy
like my sis.”
CRUTCH FREE
Walking almost noiselessly,
free
of the clomp of crutches,
walking on my fake leg,
arms free to swing,
I feel as happy
as a pinioned bird whose wings are finally growing.
But every night, before taking off my limb for sleep,
I need to keep my crutches within arm’s reach.
I’ll never be completely
crutch-free.
NO
Longer
CENTER
Queuing up behind my classmates
the first day of exam week,
I realize no one’s staring at me anymore.
Either because I blend in better without my noisy crutches
or because everyone’s wrapped up in their own worries
about doing well.
A few of my classmates mutter prayers
as the doors of the long exam hall open.
“Good luck,” Chandra and I wish each other.
Chandra’s so anxious about exams her voice shakes,
though, as I tell her, I’m sure she’ll excel.
The exam supervisor assigns me a seat
beneath a whirring ceiling fan that does little to ease the heat.
My residual limb itches with sweat.
I click my leg off under the desk,
read the question paper, scribble nonstop.
Three hours later, the exam supervisors announce,
“Drop your pens. Now.”
Hungry for lunch, I spring halfway up on one leg,