the court date

i see the neighbor hood
boy
in his new suit.

a dark blue. it looks two
sizes
too large.

a wide striped tie.
white shirt and tennis shoes
with

grass stains
from when he mowed the lawn.

it's  a court date.
his mother waves, dressed

to the nines.
i can almost smell the perfume
from here.

the boy has taken the rings
out of his nose

and combed his hair.

he looks like he could be going
to church
to sing in the choir,

instead of
doing three to five.