dial 911

everyone is scared.

and how

did we get this way?

our parents

for starters.

telling us to not talk

to strangers.

don't touch

that dead animal

in the street, look both

ways before

crossing.

zip up your coat, or

you'll catch

your death of cold.

our teachers

showing us how to hide

under our

desks when

the H-bomb drops.

telling us that

if you don't study, you'll

fail and be

a bum

under the bridge like

your cousin Eddie.

eat this, don't eat that.

chew your food, or

you'll choke.

say your prayers,

brush your teeth, you

want teeth when you get old,

don't you?

if someone breaks

in, there's no time to load

your father's gun,

there's a baseball

bat in the hall closet.

use that, or just climb

out the window

and run. dial 911.