Poem: Leaning Tree Apology

Reliving my high school past and apologizing for lies to one innocent lass.

Walking above Billings on a sandstone cliff we see a solitary figure standing on the edge, holding flowers and gazing at the city below. We stop to breathe in the
verdant scene and recall our salad days of youth, when we were
in vintage form, full to the brim of vigor and vim,
often uncouth and prone to untruth,
as I was in Math class to a
certain gangly,
gullible lass
(NAME
WITHHELD)
who sat in front
of me. I was hoping
to see her at our 50th
high school reunion this past
weekend so I could apologize for
the lies I pelted her with all year long.
One being that my great-great grandfather was
the sole survivor from Custer’s troop at the Little Big Horn.
It was not true and the name I gave this ancestor -
Pancho Leaning Tree - was made up on the
spot with the straightest face I could
muster. I couldn’t resist.
She bought it all;
hook, line, and hatchet.
Being a cad, it took me awhile
to feel bad about it but I eventually did.
I also apologize for the nickname we bestowed
upon her (Ted) which she never understood.
She was christened by my bud GH
due to her posture resembling
that of a tall stork,
“Stork”
being the
nickname of
Oakland Raiders
linebacker Ted Hendricks,
hence we dubbed her Ted. Then one day,
I jest not, she showed up in a generic blue jersey
with #83 on the back. Ted Hendricks wore #83.
We cackled all through math class and
GH got moved to a new seat.
It all adds up. 

I have no idea
where she is now.
She didn’t sign up for our
high school website or attend the
reunion kegger and is among the many
from our class classified as whereabouts unknown.
She may have passed on to a higher grade. I hope not.
If you run into her, tell her Leaning Tree from
Math says hello and he’s sorry.
And he hopes Ted is
doing well.