Ado Annie

I lay on a concrete driveway
Waiting for you,
Blowing smoke rings into the cold, Fall air.
I read your name in the tendril's.
I close my eyes
And behind my burning lids,
I see your face.

I lay sprawled out
Like a dead eagle on land
Relishing the feel of the nicotine rush
Buzzing through my veins and finger-tipped wings.

I don't know why I'm I'm laying here
Prostrate on the ground
Why don't I just fly?

I see your headlights approaching.
I grind the cigarette on my concrete altar
[[I'd give you my all, but you don't accept myself sacrifice...]]
Carefully, I stand up,
Brush myself off,
And climb in next to you.

"Shotgun," I whisper
As we pull away.

~L. J. Arien

Author notes

Ado Annie is a character in the musical "Oklahoma!" Her theme song is "I Cain't Say No" because whenever a guy tries to kiss her, she can't say no to him. It's how I am with Jacob.

Shotgun refers to "calling shotgun" when riding in a car in the passenger's seat; also a "shotgun wedding"---which was when the father threatened to shoot the boy if he didn't marry his daughter especially if they had had sexual relations or she was pregnant. That's how a male character *almost* ends up with Ado Annie in "Oklahoma!" It's supposed to represent desperation to keep him near me---to always ride shotgun.