‘Why do you care so much?’

asked the boy with a Pepsi

clasped in his hands, which

was previously deemed

lesser to Coke

in a strange conversation

at eleven thirty-two

the night of college orientation.

'I don’t know.'

I dismiss the query with a shrug

and look to the fire

surrounded by hungry teens

hungrier than we

who are huddled on plastic chairs

surrounded by itchy plants

and silence.

V a l i d a t i o n