Must-Haves for the Well-Dressed Seventh Grader | Jeff Harvey

Benny’s black hair is the color of gold today. He says he used his sister’s spray-in hair color. Other kids surround him on the playground as he delights in the attention. The boy calling him a queer doesn’t rankle Benny but it hurts me, though I’m not sure what it means. 

Last week Benny brought a fluffy-pink bag to school and said it was a European book satchel that would be on the “must-have” list next year for well-dressed seventh graders. I want one, but my dad would never allow it.

I like Benny and I want to be his friend, but it wouldn’t be a good idea. We shouldn’t bring attention to ourselves.   

He makes me jealous. It’s as if he’s stolen my life, but he hasn’t because he’s living his. I’m too ashamed to start mine.

Jeff Harvey lives in San Diego CA and makes marmalade out of the kumquats growing in his yard. His work has appeared in Stone of Madness Press, Literary Yard, Daily Drunk Mag, and elsewhere, Find him on Twitter @JeffHarvey