Johannes Manjrekar

Schoolache

She was among the prettiest girls in school, one of at least three I had a secret crush on. One day we collided in the corridor outside our classrooms. I feigned annoyance and called her stupid, she merely laughed her tinkling laugh. For one long moment we looked each other in the eyes before returning to our separate lives.

stuffing my satchel –
the suddenness
of the school bell