Rhen Wilson believes in fairness, equality, and liberty. As such, he also believes Snooki should never get a book deal before he.

Ladybugs on the Sill (March 20, 2011. Issue 26. The SLAM & FLASH Issue!)

Two ladybugs land on the windowsill. They rub up beside each other looking like two glassy red eyes with black pepper spots. I pet their backs but they don't fly away. They don't even look scared. I put my nose on the sill and stare so closely at them. My eyes cross and my head hurts.

The sun flies through the open window. Warms my face. The ladybugs crawl around and light shimmers off their round backs.

Momma and Pa walk in the room but don't say nothing to me. I don't look back at them neither but keep my eyes on the bugs. Two eyes on two eyes on two eyes.

"You gotta eat yur suppa." Momma’s voice sounds crossed yet tired. I don't like to hear her angry.

"I ain't hungry fa suppa."

Momma already done fed me. Chicken 'n' dumplings. Sloppy and salty and extra good. I can still taste the salt on my lips. Some sauce stains my fronts. Momma smacked my hand when I did it. But then she said she was sorry and that it's not my fault which don't make no sense to me.

"What I cook all that for then?"

"I'll eat it later. I'm go'n for a drink."

"Why you always gotta go for a drink when I cooked?"

"Because I'm thirsty. Now leave me be."

"So I'm s'posed stay with him why you gone then?"

"Unless you go'n leave him by hisself, I reckon you better."

The ladybugs are really moving now. I keep my finger behind them trailing their path but they're outrunning me. One bug in front of the other like a polka dotted train.

The sun's sinking lower behind the corn stalks in the fields out back. Pa works the corn fields all day while Momma works the house. Different fields but same work.

"I ain't leavin' that boy by hisself. I ain't stupid."

"Then good. But I am leavin'. Where's my hat?"

"Wha'jue need that hat for?"

"Because I'm go'n out! Don't you listen to a damn word I say?"

Pa growls when he talks sometimes.

"Please don't go, hun. Please stay with us."

"No I'm go'n. I'm tired, and I need me a drink."

I keep my back turned to Momma and Pa. I'm watching my ladybugs too close. They is running wild now. The train is outta control! The head bug is crawling so fast the other bug can't keep up. My finger still hurries up behind them trying to keep up but they are way too fast for me now. I'm laughing at their race.

"Quit that laughin' over there."

I try to stop because Pa growled but I can't.

"You hear me, boy? I said shut that laughin' up."

I put my hand over my mouth remembering last time I couldn't stop laughing.

"You want a whoopin'? You want me gettin' my belt?"

I bite my tongue and the laughing stops. My chest is pounding.

The sun is so low now, dropping below the field til I can't see it any more. It still reflects off the sky though. Pink and purple clouds burn it up. The ladybugs no longer have any more red. They is completely black now. As if they'd turned into shadows.

Suddenly the head bug opens up its back like its ripping it off, but wings pop out instead and it soars out the window. I try to follow it with my eyes but it's too fast. And before I even know it that head bug is gone forever.

But the smaller bug sits there. It doesn't move any more. It stares out the window wondering where its friend’s got to. But it doesn't see it anymore than I do. We both sit there staring out the window.

The door slams behind me. Everything is real quiet. The house ain't moving. I ain't moving either.

The ladybug twitches for a second as if it's going fly out too but it don't.

I sit there wondering for a long time if it ever will.