MR. TROYER’S SUICIDE

The obituary in the local paper

merely stated that he as

“a member of the faculty”

at the high school.

On Monday a substitute teacher

walked into our classroom

and asked what chapter

we had reached in

The American Story: Liberty and Justice.”

No announcement came

from the principal’s office.

Whisperings seeped through the hallways.

Details were imagined,

expanded upon, modified.

A week later curiosity expired.

What everybody wanted to know

was if the basketball team

could win five in a row.