James Quentin

Miss Masudi

We sneak cigarettes around the corner of the Hyatt.
My tux—her gown
It’s her sister's wedding we're here for.
My best friend's.
Tomorrow I will go because that's what you do after weddings.
She’s older than me but not old.
Just as lonely, but not alone.
My weakness tonight is the booze.
I've thrown up twice in the restroom
missing the toilet both times.
She peaks over my shoulder as she speaks.
It's her father I have a feeling she's avoiding.
My other weakness is of course her eyes.
I'm so lost in them that I decide to stay in one place.
She tells me she's heard stories about me.
But when I try to act cool it doesn't work.
I am a worst nightmare of some sort.
Square pegs in round holes.
I forget to look at the moon, I can't remember if there are stars.
She tells me she's studying to become an architect
And I smile and nod like that's exactly how it's supposed to be.
She doesn't ask me about me, and that's fine because I don’t know what I would say.
Probably something about becoming a pilot and flying away across the ocean and over the mountains.
Just me in a plane flying.
Even though the notion has never even crossed my mind.

James Quentin is a counselor at a residential treatment facility for troubled adolescent girls. He currently bides his time writing, patiently awaiting the revolution, or basking in the glory of the Cardinals World Series victory. Quentin has gone through the writing programs at the Missouri State University and the Florida State University. At present, he resides in Cambridge, MA, but will forever consider St. Louis, MO home.