Behave

Early bird becomes
night owl, unable to
sleep.  Her words
 
tonight make me feel
like a child, a
child who wants playtime
 
but instead is directed to
the corner to put his head
down on his desk.
 
The last two words of
her letter said this,
You behave
 
two simple words with a
simple meaning, but tonight
they feel like the swat of
 
a ruler across my hands;
I didn’t do anything
wrong.  I paid attention,
 
did my homework, and
yet I still got scolded
anyway. Now I wonder
 
if I weren’t so nice,
maybe then I could
get to have recess.