Apology

I finish my speech on
library orientation
ask if grade three students
have any questions

Tommy punches his arm
up into the air
with the quickness of a sidewinder,
asks me how much I weigh

I choke back a curse,
clench my pencil
so that it snaps in two

I remnd him that a gentleman
never asks a lady
about her age
or her weight

his teacher pulls him
aside to scold him
he sniffles tears back
as he apologizes

“Forget it”
I tell him
knowing that 
neither of us will 


c2009