—I CAN BE CHILDISH SOMETIMES, SO TAKE ME DOWN EASY

                                               Playground

I am nine, alone on the playground, when I fall in love with the hologram. I know its love, true love, because the hologram says so. The hologram says, Here, suck on my tongue, it tastes like cinnamon tea mixed with magic. The hologram shows me things that not even adults have seen. Some of the scenes are gruesome but most are lovely and less threatening. I spend all of my time at the playground waiting for the other kids to vamoose b/c that’s the only time the hologram shows up, when it’s just me. The hologram has a tongue-twister name I can’t pronounce, something harsh and German-sounding. In the meantime, we’re going to run away when I’m older. The hologram has a map, a gassed-up car somewhere and tickets to a sold-out show. The only thing I’m confused about is why it picked me.