Alec Solomita has published fiction in the Southword Journal, The Mississippi Review, Southwest Review, and Heart of Flesh, among other publications. He was shortlisted by the Bridport Prize and Southword Journal, and named a finalist by the Noctua Review. His poetry has appeared in Algebra of Owls, The Galway Review, The Lake, Poetica, Blue Nib, and elsewhere. His poetry chapbook, ‘Do Not Forsake Me,’ was published by Finishing Line Press in 2017. He lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA.

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Driver’s Ed.

“Do you want to know,” said Dan,
the sole of his boot soft on the
accelerator, “the secret of seduction?”
I was fifteen.

His Volkswagen dodged around
Watertown Square. Down-
shifting into second, he side-glanced
quick and arch.

“Love,” he said. Around the
Square again in the just falling dusk,
Dan shifted back to third
and I tried to smile.

“Do you want to know,” he pumped
the brake, signaling, and switched lanes
out of the crazy rotary, “the secret of love?”

He merged onto Mt. Auburn Street,
and flicked on the headlights.
“Listen.”