When I was young I was not tempted by the second person nor the first I was a third, barely in the picture unconsciously following the dictum: be sorted at the top ninety ninth percentile perfect grammar one hundred percent satisfactory per dollar, there was no cost without thought answering questions solving other people's problems rage was not a feature of the landscape neither was the passivity of the voice I heard embarrassment and desire for simple time, racing faster not than anyone else but to move through More rather than lonely in a crowd with insufficient convergence thus dissatisfaction paired with Achievement and Citizenship pledged allegiance to my soul to the future and with winning and ranking for those who happen to get them.