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"Joyride" by Maxine Chen



I leapt out my bedroom window onto my Nimbus 2000. 

A couple putting up pictures of their son. 

The bobbing of a go-getter on her daily run.

On the 11th floor a shirtless man stared out the window, 

contemplating football and failure. We exchanged hellos.

I flew to my lover’s home. He was sucking his thumb, falling softly asleep.

I flew to my sister’s flat. She was crying. I couldn’t comfort her.

I flew to my parents’ flat. It was filled with hornets and bees. Filled every

square centimeter of their tiny house. Deep from its heart came a pong that brought 

tears to my eyes. I’m sorry, I prayed; for what, I wasn’t sure.

Maybe I shouldn’t have spent my last paycheck on a Nimbus 2000.

Now my broomstick beeps at me – flashing bright white and blue.

There’s work to be done. There’s work to be done. There is work to do.

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