bernice

your friend
ernie, who sometimes
likes to be
called Bernice,
fancies
women's clothes.
it's all very strange,
but you like
him, and there's
no funny business
going on.
but sometimes
it's weird
when he watches
football with you
in his stockings
and dress,
his white pumps,
lipstick
and all the rest.
when a team scores
he jumps up
and down,
waving his purse
about.
then you have to help
him find
the backing to an
ear ring that
inevitably falls
out.