Darlene in “Unfinished Business”

[Darlene has to recite her poem aloud]

It fell on her pancakes and stuck to her plate.

To whom it concerns, my mom made me write this

And I'm just a kid, so how could I fight this?

To whom it concerns, I lost my assignment

Maybe I'll get lucky, solitary confinement.

To whom it concerns, Darlene's great with a ball

But guys don't watch tomboys when they're cruising the hall.

To whom it concerns, I just turned thirteen

Too short to be quarterback, too plain to be queen.

To whom it concerns, I'm not made of steel

When I get blindsided, my pain is quite real.

I don't mean to squawk, but it really burns.

I just thought I'd mention it, to whom it concerns.