other people's children

it's other

children that make you nervous,

make you

anxious

and to break

out in hives,

they drive you crazy,

short drive

that it is, but

not

your own kid,

your own kind,

but the other

ones

in the room.

and worse yet is a birthday

party

at Chuckee Cheese,

with the singing

furry animals,

the grey rats.

a sea of floating balloons,

chaos,

with lights and music,

it's Lord of the Flies

with no one

coming to save you.

time cannot go fast enough

to get your kid

past

that age.