Drag Racers by Ryan Quinn Flanagan

They both stood at the end of his parent’s driveway
in the dark.  Each with a cigarette in their mouth.
Sparking up and burning the cherry at the same time.
A third friend to officiate so that there was no disagreement.
The first one to smoke down to the filter won.
What they won, nobody could be certain.
Bragging rights perhaps, but when you live in a town
of 607 people where water treatment and sewage
is the largest employer, ask yourself:
is there ever really a winner?

Ryan Quinn Flanagan is a happily unmarried proud father of none. His work can be found both in print and online in such joints as Your One Phone Call, Horror Sleaze Trash, and Dead Snakes. He has an affinity for dragonflies, discount tequila, and all things sarcastic.