Punks-In June

Minnie was 14. She liked wearing bright red lipstick and getting high.
She was walking down the hallway, to meet Krystal at her locker. They were going to the pizza shop for lunchtime.
Tommy was lounging against Mick's locker and their eyes met.
But Tommy looked away.
Minnie was getting used to that.
"Tommy," she said, deciding; she walked towards him and Tommy pretended to ignore her.
"Tommy," she said, again. "I got you something."
And she stood in front of him, reaching inside her blue binder; rainbow stickers and pot leaves on a background of magic-markered lines. The words THE WALL scribbled in the middle.
She handed him the worn, red envelope. Tommy took it from her, without looking at her.
Until she was walking away.
And then Tommy shook his head.
He sighed.
That girl never, ever looked back.

Minnie could tell Krystal was really excited.
"I think Mick wants to get back together. He asked me after math if I would spend lunchtime with him. You don't care, right?" Krystal snapped the bubble she blew with her purple gum between her teeth.
Minnie rolled her eyes.

Minnie stood behind the school, in the teacher's parking lot; her back up against the wall; light blue winter coat wrapped tightly to her shoulders. The teachers would never say anything to her, when they saw her smoking there.
She reasoned the teachers were scared to even talk to her.
The teachers were just happy that Minnie hid her filth.
She was happy; not spending the lunch hour with. Krystal.
She traced her sneakered foot in the springtime dust. Minnie missed Tommy. Three months was a long time not to talk to somebody.
The wind blew her hair in front of her eyes; keeping them warm.
She saw Tommy come around the corner, with his head down. He stopped with his back turned to her, next to Mr. Perry’s red Camero. Black pinstripes.
Tommy did not throw away the envelope. After he had finished reading what was inside, he tucked everything into his back pocket. Then he walked away.
Tommy did not notice Minnie.

Her bedroom was dark because nothing lit it. Minnie was sad and wanted to cry.
So, she got high.
But Minnie still wanted to cry.
Then phone rang.
Her whole body jumped.
Her heart.
Her tongue.
It was 9:58 p.m.
Tommy...
An into the red phone she did not have to reach for, Minnie said, "Hello."
"Hey," Mick said, back.
"What do you want?" Minnie sighed, slumping in her disappointment.
"Some lovin', baby," he laughed.
"Fuck off, Mick. What do you really want?"
"I am being serious, Minnie. Krystal did not put out."
"You musta really fucked-up," Minnie answered him; could not help but snicker at him.
"No, Bobby bought her a bracelet," Mick gave a short laugh.
"Oh," Minnie said; she stopped smiling.
"So, come on, Minnie. Can you come over?"
"No, Mick. I told you we would not be doing that anymore," she said.
"Come on, Minnie," he used his little-boy voice.
"No," Minnie said into the phone.
The silence lasted but seconds.
"Tommy ain't calling you tonight, stupid," Mick said, snidely, into the phone, before he hung up.