Vanishing Point

Connor is my partner today, because Connor pisses himself and I'm the only student in Within-Reach who won't yell at him or let him wander around for the rest of the day in wet pants. Before Miss Sharon left the station wagon to pump gas, she read off the list of partners. Connor and Ollie. Seth and Marie. Miss Sharon and Dylan. It's always Miss Sharon and Dylan. Dylan is legally blind and thinks like a toddler, but he has a moustache and cystic acne. While Miss Sharon pumps the gas, I hold my breath and close my eyes. The nozzle hisses behind our seat. Connor nods uncontrollably, smacking his knee with his mitten. Connor reminds me of Franklin, the way he nods and shakes, the way his lips are always bright red and cracked, how he smiles even when he's asleep. The nozzle hisses louder, the pump makes a sharp click after every gallon. It was always worse when Franklin pissed himself. He couldn't hold himself up. It took me half an hour to clean and change him.