Don't Even Ask

Jimmy has the worst marks in his class

Scars over half his body and an arm in a cast

“Oh that’s just a rash it’ll pass” jimmy would say with

A laugh

But his smile wouldn’t last cos it was only a mask

Hiding a past that was still present

And heaven knows what kind of future he must have

Next day two of his fingers are smashed

He says “don’t even ask”

Now jimmy was a smart kid, always worked the hardest

So willing to learn

But teacher was a little concerned

Cos when it’s his turn to come to the front and read

He’d plead for someone else to take the lead

And teacher eventually agreed

Jimmy just smiled so relieved

Cos earlier he had a nosebleed and still had a smudge

Of blood on his sleeve

But he need not be concerned with that

They’re too busy staring at the burns on the back of

His neck

He had no answer for that one yet

Luckily no-one asked about it

Bell rings, jimmy grabs his bags and takes off in a

Dash, going nowhere fast

But tomorrow he would limp back into class

He’d say “don’t even ask”

Jimmy wears long shirts to hide the hurt

And for a while it worked

But his lies got worse

His smile now a smirk as he tries to search to find the

Words to tell the nurse

“Oh I just fell in the dirt”

But she didn’t look amused, more like confused

Cos this excuse he’d already used the last time his

Shoulder was bruised

And even then he refused medical attention

And so no-one made mention of his pension for fractured

Tendons

They just sent him back to class

With just a pat on the ass and a hall pass

He’s fine now but how long will it last?

What will he say next, car crash, whiplash?

Don’t even ask

Monday started out fine

Mother nature was kind as her sun shined down on all

The kids standing in line

And so the class makes an entrance teacher takes

Attendance

Before handing out todays lesson

“Lester” “here”, “michelle” “here”, “adrian” “here”

“Troy” “here”, “jimmy”… “jimmy?”

Guess here’s not here

As they stare at his empty chair, no-one’s seen him

Anywhere

He wasn’t downstairs, not in the playground

Jimmy just ain’t around

Jimmy was later found in his bath with one of his

Wrists slashed

What could have led him down this path?

Why would jimmy do something so rash?

Maybe if someone would have bothered to ask!