Someday, You Might Need This

by Rhonda Weiss, Leeds, NY

It finally happened 

One day

In Catskill NY

Two freight trains

Going in opposite directions

Came toward each other

I didn’t remember how to set-up the equation

I didn’t have a calculator

My math teacher’s instructions were irretrievable

Now that I needed them most

So I stood in horror

As the trains passed each other

Without any assistance from me

And I failed the test again