Purple Daze Read Online Free

I say.
    Â 
    His smooth moves are easy to follow
unlike the boxy steps I remember
from fifth grade cotillion class.
“When did you learn this?”
    Â 
    We’re palm to palm, a slow turn.
“My aunt teaches at Arthur Murray.”
    Â 
    Another spin, I trip on the hem of my
fringed jeans, trying to laugh, except I’m
crying and can’t stop.
“I don’t want you to die.”
    Â 
    He soaks up Signe Anderson, jazzy
in black leg-hugging leather boots.
“She sings like an angel.”

    I shout over her mournful voice,
    Â 
    â€œTell them you’re a pacifist.
Or flat-footed and a homosexual.
They don’t take homos.
    Â 
    Oregon, Washington, Canada .
A thousand miles maybe?
You could make it in a day.”
    Â 
    He kisses the tip of my sunburned nose.
“Sorry, honey. I’m not a traitorous wussy.”

Nancy
    Don bums a smoke from a guy with a
Pocahontas headband in a porta-potty line
that snakes like psychedelic dominoes under
a smoky green haze.
    Â 
    One flick and we all fall down, spreading
a runny egg of Communism:
    Â 
    South Vietnam and Southeast Asia,
before splashing across the Pacific until
America’s democratic beaches turn red,
says the president and his shiny-starred
generals.
    Â 
    I’ve seen Phil fight when he thinks a guy’s
putting the rush on me. But I can’t imagine
him in a steamy jungle shooting at squat,
brown people in black pajamas, and
    Â 
    I can’t imagine them shooting back.
    Â 
    I lose my balance and topple over,
another casualty of the domino theory.

Don
    A country-rock band is on stage
warming up a banjo and washtub bass,
while I zigzag through a maze of
frizzy hair and peace signs:
    Â 
    MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR.
    Â 
    Good idea.
    Â 
    I spot Cheryl sitting cross-legged,
practically in Mick’s lap. His shirt’s off
and he’s got his arms around her, his lecherous
fingers pressing hers to the guitar’s neck.
He’s wailing “Baby Love.”
    Â 
    She smiles at me and blows on her fingers,
sore as usual from the steel strings.
“Mickey says I can keep it while he’s gone.”
    Â 
    I tell him to get up because I want to see
if the jerk has a boner and if he does, I’m
going to kick his zipper inside out, which
should help him sound more like Diana Ross.
    Â 
    He laughs hysterically. Like it’s a joke.
    Â 
    Yeah, right.

Ziggy
    History.
    Â 
    I’ve never taken such a hard test.
    Â 
    I read the True or False section first,
marking answers opposite to what I think
is right, so I’d have a chance of passing.
    Â 
    When I got to the Multiple Choice part,
I was so tired of not knowing the answers
I just scratched out letters.
    Â 
    All of the above.
None of the above.
    Â 
    I get an F .
Fuck.

Boot Camp

    Drill Sergeant:
“Your left!
Your left! Right! Left!
Your other left dickhead!
Sound Off!”
Platoon:
“1-2”
Drill Sergeant:
“Sound off!”
Platoon:
“3-4”
Drill Sergeant:
“Break it down!”
Platoon:
“1-2-3-4-1-2—3-4!”
Drill Sergeant:
“If I die in a combat zone, Box me up and send me home.
Put me in a set of blues. Comb my hair and shine my shoes.
Pin my medals on my chest. Tell my mama I done my best.
Mama, Mama, don’t you cry. Marine Corps’ motto ‘Do or die.’”
Drill Sergeant:
“Sound Off!”
Platoon:
“1-2-3-4-1-2—3-4!”
Drill Sergeant:
“Ain’t no use in lookin’ down. Ain’t no discharge on the ground.
Ain’t no use in lookin’ back. Jody got your Cadillac.
Don’t be sad and don’t be blue. Jody got your girlfriend too.
I used to date a Beauty Queen Now I love my M-16!”
Drill Sergeant:
“Sound Off ...!”

Blackboard Room 206
    Impromptu Writing: 100 words or less
Topic: Friendship
Due: End of Today’s Class
    Â 
    MY BEST FRIEND
    Â 
At first I thought what an easy assignment! Ziggy has been my best friend since