“You be Frank,” his younger brother said
“Okay.”
“I’ll be Jessie.”
“Fine by me.”
The two brothers played at being outlaws that summer
Fake guns blazing leather holsters hot on their skinny hips

That fall Teacher slapped his assignment down on the desk
“Hey, what’s with this?”
“What?”
“You signed your paper Frank James.”
“That’s who I am.”
“No you’re not.”
“I am,” he argued
“NO. YOU’RE. NOT!!” A steely threatening look
He hung his head dejectedly
Her manner as well as her point crystal clear
Dang. So much for fun
“Okay,” he mumbled
“Don’t be an idiot next time.”
She stalked back to the front of the class everyone giggling
Silently he pretended to write Frank James on his leg
With his finger
He’d show her
He wasn’t ready to give up
Not yet anyway.