15-Minute Wait for the Results | Teen Ink

15-Minute Wait for the Results MAG

By Anonymous

Skinny bird legs lying next to mine.
The one rubbing my thigh is tapping
up and down and up and down
because you are nervous about something.
Your finger, the one with the big red plastic ring,
is tapping on the peeling dark veneer rhythmically.
Tap-a-tap-a-tap-tap-tap-tap-a-tap
Your other hand is so clammy.
Like a turtleneck on a hot day,
like a wet turtleneck on a humid day.
The salmon-colored plastic sticks to my upper arm
in the small space between us on this love seat,
peeling away from my skin when I shift
with a sticky sound. Ouch.
There’s a rip, all jagged with
school bus-colored foam poking out.
Your nails are digging in,
as short as they are.
You are so afraid.
My nails are digging into your hand as well –
I can see the red-lined moons standing out plain as sight.
What was that old saying?
Red sky at night, sailor’s delight?
Or was it take warning?
Does a moon make the night red?
I ask you out loud, you laugh,
this queer little laugh
that isn’t a laugh at all.
Not really.
And you say it’s the first.
So we should delight and dance together like
we were doing just last week under that
tacky disco ball.
The door opens with a creak that reminds me
of an old haunted house. It’s all meant to scare.
The doctor walks in – shuffles really – lab coat knocking against his knees.
He’s kind-looking and old. Like a grandfather. Or uncle. Or something.
He moves past us.
Sits at his desk.
Pulls on his glasses – his eyes look so big.
Pulls out a manila folder.
Opens it.
Turns the page. Again. Again.
Licks his lips.
Takes glasses off – his eyes are small once more.
His chin rests on his folded hands.
Pensive.
“The test was positive.”
Your grip tightens, my grip tightens.
Many red moons across our hands.



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This article has 205 comments.


This is great. Excellent. I love it.

very nice...

on Apr. 15 2017 at 1:23 pm
HereSheIs BRONZE, Wellesley, Massachusetts
3 articles 0 photos 187 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." -Plato

Beautiful and descriptive and emotional. If that's a true story, I hope everything turned out ok

on Nov. 12 2016 at 3:45 am
gayatrielliot BRONZE, Delhi , Other
1 article 0 photos 33 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The autumn leaves are a riot of color. They remind us of the good, colorful things, and their crunch beneath our shoes also bids adieu to all bad things that have long gone,"

This is great. I love the way you've framed your sentences and put the plot together. Excellent Also, I'd love it you check out my poetry as well. Thank you

on Apr. 6 2016 at 10:01 am
LittleRedDeliriousPrince SILVER, Parma Heights, Ohio
7 articles 0 photos 100 comments
I love the suspense created at the end, how we leave whether or not the test being positive was good or bad up to the reader.

Shay<3 said...
on Apr. 20 2015 at 1:13 pm
This is really good, I love it. Very awesome job!!

on Feb. 13 2015 at 7:37 pm
Writer_Jordan GOLD, Ellicott City, Maryland
15 articles 0 photos 182 comments

Favorite Quote:
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

Brilliant, although it isn't clear if "positive" is a good thing or not. Regardless, you achieved suspense!

on Jan. 13 2014 at 3:31 pm
NicoleOlarsch SILVER, New Paltz, New York
6 articles 1 photo 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
"In order to test a man's character, give him power"

Either a pregnancy test or an STD test. Moving either way.

on Jan. 13 2014 at 3:29 pm
NicoleOlarsch SILVER, New Paltz, New York
6 articles 1 photo 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
"In order to test a man's character, give him power"

This moved me greatly. The intemsity that builds up really kept me reding fast, wondering what the results were going to be. Good work!

on Oct. 17 2013 at 1:54 pm
TheGianaJinx GOLD, Congers, New York
14 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Things are getting too spicy for the pepper."

I'm guessing it was a pregnancy test and she was with her partner, as they were smiling nervously at each other. I don't think it was an STD, it didn't set the stage for something so scary.

Ridhima BRONZE said...
on Jun. 7 2013 at 10:57 pm
Ridhima BRONZE, East Brunswick, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 1 comment
That was really good and the suspense throughout made it even better! Was it a pregnancy test?

on May. 16 2013 at 4:05 pm
lovebass BRONZE, Alexandria, Virginia
1 article 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Bass players are always the intellectual kind, but nobody knows it."

That was wonderful. I love the suspense, and how she's thinking of so many other things befor she gets the results.

on Apr. 24 2013 at 7:39 pm
Laugh-it-Out PLATINUM, Brooklyn, New York, New York
38 articles 0 photos 445 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light" --Dylan Thomas

Amazing. There is nothing left to say.

ABazza GOLD said...
on Aug. 25 2012 at 11:47 am
ABazza GOLD, London, Other
13 articles 0 photos 26 comments

Favorite Quote:
'Keep Calm and Carry On'
'Don't worry, be happy'
'Life Goes On'
You Only Live Once'

Seeing the title and the first couple of lines I thought you were waiting for exam results (as lots of teens have recently) but the mystery was great :)

on Apr. 15 2012 at 12:43 am
elizabethlong BRONZE, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
1 article 0 photos 32 comments
Awesome! The suspense was amzing!!!!!!

gwhite BRONZE said...
on Feb. 9 2012 at 10:45 pm
gwhite BRONZE, Oceanside, California
3 articles 1 photo 2 comments
She was getting results to see if she was pregnant.

eliana924 GOLD said...
on Feb. 9 2012 at 8:45 pm
eliana924 GOLD, New York, New York
11 articles 0 photos 116 comments
I love how this is very poetic but also traces a story, leaving enough suspense along the way and openness at the end, while still giving the reader essential, craved details.

james14 BRONZE said...
on Feb. 9 2012 at 2:04 pm
james14 BRONZE, Charlotte, North Carolina
1 article 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Worst excuse for not turning in homework: 'I couldn't find anyone to copy it from'".

this is so well written! i love the mystery of it!!! im guessing its a STD test or a pregnancy test?

on Feb. 9 2012 at 10:50 am
everanon BRONZE, Chicago, Illinois
3 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

This was so well-written! I loved the imagery and mystery. They added so much to the poem.

on Feb. 9 2012 at 12:40 am
Bookworm1997 BRONZE, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1 article 0 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
You cannot open a book without learning something. -Confucious

Wow, this is great. I like how you let us guess what is positive too, and I also want to say pregnancy test, but I wouldn't be surprised if that were not the case.