When Worlds Collide

Her world  
at that moment
was her friends;
their animated conversation,
the joy of movement,
perhaps too,
somewhere,
thoughts of unfinished homework
an unreciprocated crush,
her parents' marriage or divorce,
maybe some musical artist I don't know the name of.
 
My world
at that moment
was begrudged playground duty
Wondering how I was going to get copies made,
when my prep time had been cancelled all week
And more immediately,
guessing the airline
of a plane flying overhead.
 
She was large for a sixth-grade girl
probably 150 pounds
Running fast with her head turned,
she knocked me flat on my ass
 
The impact reminded me
of car accidents
dogs being run over
Death
Nothing for me
is ever just the thing itself.
 
My first response: anger
 
I played the age card,
because to her,
my age is absolutely ancient.
 
Then I sobered up:
 
To her credit: She had stopped
Also to her credit: She seemed genuinely contrite
 
I told her I forgave her
but to please try to be more careful.
 
I got up
Nothing hurt.
 
I'm good at falling
 
I dismissed her and off she went
back to her now
less animated world.
 
And I back to my world
as a plane flew overhead
 
It was yellow...
 
Spirit Airlines?