troubled girl

Whenever I went to the park to shoot baskets I noticed a girl
Sitting on the porch of a house across the street.
I thought she was really cute but couldn't tell how old she was.
She looked like Elizabeth Shue from Karate Kid.

That was my favorite movie. I'd seen it in the theater 6 times.
I liked the scene where she wears a tight sweater and they go to the amusement park.

She started to come over to the courtside benches when I'd show up.
I was nervous as I talked to her.
She told me she lived with her cousin because in Chicago her parents were killed.
Nothing ever happened between us. Not even a kiss.

She gave me Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" for Christmas. (I never listened to it.)
We drifted apart that winter because it was too cold for basketball.

Five years later when I was in my 20s I lived in a different town.
I'd visit my parents for the holidays and one time she called.
I met her in the Mayfair parking lot and we sat in my car.
The steering wheel seemed enormous as she confessed.

She'd told me lies back then about her family.
She said although she was married now she always loved me.

I almost wanted to kiss her but I was nervous again.
She said her husband beat her up sometimes and she had a baby boy.
She told me her boy's name was Kevin and I got to thinking about
How long she would have to live with that.

Words adapted from a short story by kevin sampsell
Music by m johnson ©2008 zubsongs, ltd