He swears on his mother's life he wasn't there.

And if he was there

he swears on his mother's life it wasn't him.

And if it was him

After the fiftieth insult - 

the school bag down the toilet, the stifled

giggle-whisper that hung like a smear on the air - 

she suddenly saw

Walking out the school door,

didn't come to stay,

didn't mean to talk, but

did it anyway.

My friend Jace, beside me,

walking to my beat,