It’s your mind – and it’s talking to you.
It’s not telling you to rob a bank or jump off a cliff.
No. It’s telling you the food is terrible and minutes are dragging into hours.
It’s telling you it’s May and June will take forever.
And maybe that’s good because you graduate in June and you turn eighteen in July and you have to register for the draft.
Yep – the draft. You, a jarhead – you, in uniform – you, dodging bullets.
Life . . .what is it?
Life – endless homework – no social life – no parties – no tongues.
You’re stuck in neutral – you may stay that way until they drag you off to boot camp.
That’s if they call you. Your dad wants you to join. Something about making a man out of you
Do you remind him of Grapefruit?
It’s only been a minute – you look up at the cafeteria clock – maybe it stopped.
Your mind is yammering non-stop. Time is frozen solid. Not going anywhere.
Maybe if you exploded – or got up and started running.
The girl sitting next to you has no idea. She’s looking at her plate – guessing what she’s eating.
Cream of Meatloaf Soup – mashed rubber potatoes. The only thing edible is the milk, and even that you’re not so sure about.
You’re still a virgin – nobody knows that – seventeen and you haven’t been to third base yet. If your friends find out they’ll crucify you.
Speaking of which, why don’t you have a girlfriend?
All the eligible ones are taken – all the others think you’re insane.
You stare off into space a lot. That could be a sign.
Oh swell – your head is starting to buzz. Loudly.
And you hear music.
And it’s getting louder.
And you open your eyes.
And you remind yourself you have to stop stealing your mom’s diet pills.
Sleeping is no fun, not with a fistful of Dexedrine marching around your brain.
And for proof, here’s a half hour of Johnny Hayes from KRLA – May 26, 1968
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