captured by the game

my son

at the age of five or so,

told me

once

as we sat on the porch

drinking Cokes after

a game of catch,

that he believed

that women

were trying to trick us

by wearing so much

make up

and perfume, getting

dressed up

in fancy clothes, with

lots of jewelry.

Dad, he said, i think

they do stuff like painting

their nails,

and dying their hair to

fool us into thinking

they're prettier than they

really are.

what do you think, he asked,

looking at me wide eyed

full of his sudden

epiphany.

yup i said, clinking my bottle

against his. yup.

good talk son, good talk