Harry & I

It had been a long dry spell

that day in second grade.

I was feeling antsy

to use the little boy's room.

I thought I could hold it until lunch,

but I didn't have the nerve

to interrupt the teacher

to announce to everyone

in the class about having to go.

On the verge of panic

I began flapping my legs

like a butterfly

but not taking to the air.

My wings folded

just seconds before
the sound of the bell.

Luckily, my jeans acted

like a super sponge,

and there was no puddle

to draw attention to my mishap

as the class got up for lunch.

While standing in line

at the cafeteria,

Patricia turned around.

Looking down at my pants

she asked with a devilish grin,

"Why are your pants wet?"

I quickly answered,

"My mom washed my jeans this morning,

and she didn't have time to dry them!"

She whispered to her friend

while pointing down at my legs.

They both giggled and 

ignored me for the rest of the day.

By recess time

every classmate,

including the teacher,

was aware that my pants

never reached the clothesline.

I was ostracized

while on the playground.

Unexpectedly,

Harry came up to me!

He would have been the last person

to show compassion for anyone;

for he was the class clown.

Looking down at his pants

as if a badge of honor,

he was all bubbly when he announced,

"Hey, I peed in my pants, too!"

Mostly ignored,

Harry and I

were far enough from the sounds

of ridicule and mockery

at the other end of the playground.

The occasional looks

still stung like a bee.

Treated like outcasts,

I was sullen.

Harry, on the other hand,

was grinning

from ear to ear

from all of the attention

we were getting!

As for me,

I just wanted to go home

rather than parade my mistake

out there on the playground.

But for better or worse,

this day was all about

Harry and I,

two "pees" in a pod.

From that day forth

I vowed to listen

to the butterfly

and take to the air.