0019: Up, Down, Smile, Frown
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0019: Everly keeps her eyes glued on the swaying pencil.
The officer continues to slide the pencil through the air. Left, right, left, right.
The officer watches Everly’s eyes. They flick down to the middle, then back up to the eraser. Then, they roll off the pencil completely.
The officer makes mental notes: Nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. He always felt smart when he said that word, even though he wasn’t sure how to spell it.
The officer slides the pencil back into his pocket. “Now, stand on one foot, arms to your side, and your other foot six inches off the ground.”
Everly tries to lift her foot. Her balance falters. She needs to focus. The ground is rough and worn, decorated with crumpled papers, small rocks, sparkles, and cigarette butts. She uses the bottom of her right shoe to clear an area so she can balance. She lifts her foot up again.
“UP, DOWN, SMILE, FROWN…” a song from her childhood dance classes. She recalls all of her friends standing in rows, watching the instructor lift one leg up, circling her arms overhead singing, “Up, Down, Smile, Frown…something something” and then everyone catapulting into the air, clicking their heels together, “SHOUTS the CLOWN!” Follow the dance instructor and get a sticker at the end.
Follow the police officer and get to go home.
The officer steps closer to Everly.
As he speaks, a balmy coffee infused plumb of disgustingness reaches out and levitates up Everly’s nostrils.
The officer continues to slide the pencil through the air. Left, right, left, right.
The officer watches Everly’s eyes. They flick down to the middle, then back up to the eraser. Then, they roll off the pencil completely.
The officer makes mental notes: Nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. He always felt smart when he said that word, even though he wasn’t sure how to spell it.
The officer slides the pencil back into his pocket. “Now, stand on one foot, arms to your side, and your other foot six inches off the ground.”
Everly tries to lift her foot. Her balance falters. She needs to focus. The ground is rough and worn, decorated with crumpled papers, small rocks, sparkles, and cigarette butts. She uses the bottom of her right shoe to clear an area so she can balance. She lifts her foot up again.
“UP, DOWN, SMILE, FROWN…” a song from her childhood dance classes. She recalls all of her friends standing in rows, watching the instructor lift one leg up, circling her arms overhead singing, “Up, Down, Smile, Frown…something something” and then everyone catapulting into the air, clicking their heels together, “SHOUTS the CLOWN!” Follow the dance instructor and get a sticker at the end.
Follow the police officer and get to go home.
The officer steps closer to Everly.
As he speaks, a balmy coffee infused plumb of disgustingness reaches out and levitates up Everly’s nostrils.