School Ties

Homework set, school locked, class under control.

I’m the best teacher they have.

I stride off,
People sweat,
No one notices me.

Three minutes on the bus,
Prepare for tomorrow,
Kids howl.

I’m home.
The porter’s sick.
I scamper upstairs, lock the door,
Shiver.

I loosen my tie, scrunch it up,
Fall on the bed. My arm hangs down
And I’m crying.