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Cracker Jack Heartbreak

Iridescent waves moved languidly above the road, and brick silos stood hunched like old mean exhausted from the afternoon heat.
His mother fumbled with the keys, her pinched features distorted by annoyance as her son pushed past her. He was going to Erica’s house. He had been saving a ring. Boys gave girls rings and after that they get to spend every day together as best friends. He’d seen it happen before to his mom.
Beads of sweat ran trails down his forehead in translucent gashes. Erica looked at him and at the ring and broke a laugh over his head.
“You askin me to marry you or somethin? Where did you get this piece of shit ring Jamie, a damn cracker jack box? You prolly think that’s where people get they rings, you such a fool.” Her teeth were yellow and capped in silver in too many places. “Now get outta here, I don’t wanna see you wandering around here again.”
She walked into her house, tossing the boy’s ring like salt over her shoulder, warding off her company like bad luck.

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