FEATHERWEIGHT
NICOLE EASTERWOOD

PROLOGUE

In Egyptian mythology
before you could gain

entry to the afterlife

you had to answer

two questions.

One:

did you live

a happy

and full life?

Two:

Did your life

bring joy

to others?

How would you

answer that?

And I mean

truthfully,

in front of a

higher powers face.

Did you punch a kid

in the face

and steal his shoes?

Or did you help the kid

clean up his bloodied nose

and help him find

some shoes so he

can walk home?

Who are you

in that scenario?

And why are you that?

Why are you

anything

at

all?

Living a full

and happy life

is hard.

Especially when you are

supposed to be worried

about what jeans

and top combination

you’re supposed

to be wearing

for yearbook photos.

Your face:

retainer,

pimple on left temple

and light freckles

on your cheeks.

The tangled mess

of red poof

in a bun on

top of your head.

Short legs.

The twisted way you stand

that accentuates your

muffin top.

All of it,

there in a book

that will reside

in the school library

forever.

Great.

Now I have to worry

about being a good person

and getting on God’s

good side

and if my hair looks

as awful as I think it does.

Freaking fantastic.

© 2011 Nicole Easterwood