A secure living,
an insecure social life—
the gifts of old age.
Tag: reality
Show business
As an aspiring teenager in show business, Tina’s life had been difficult from the start. Her young blood had boiled every time money took precedence over talent. Her self-respecting self had cringed when industry’s leading names called her names and demanded unreason from her. Fifteen years it had taken for her to take her stand, to sparkle with pride, to face an audience and accept the globe she so deserved.
The glory, the globe, sat between her palms as she carried it off the stage, and all the while, the auditorium applauded the best actor of the year—the temporary identity she’d assumed on behalf of her costar. He was filming the next globe winner halfway across the globe.
Chance
Deny though she does
a one-way ticket to hell
her first raffle was.
The art of parenting
Sought a son
to achieve high
over and beyond
his age and height
hauling him away
forcing, from friends
the mother with hopes
cast him amidst wolves
encouraging greatness
discouraging listlessness
she carved a scaredy-cat
out of a sheer underdog.
A comforting shoulder
From behind his picket fence, Benjamin saw the kids playing. Along with the five year old twins from across the lawn, was the oldest kid in the block, Ryan. The three of them held a small teddy bear above Mark’s face — the three year old who’d just moved to the neighbourhood with his grandparents.
Ben remained rooted as Mark reached out to his teddy, and failing. Ryan was laughing, the pinkish gums behind his primary teeth, now gleaming in the sun. When his mother called for dinner, he cast the teddy aside and ran, the twins in his wake.
Mark had slopped on the ground, weeping. Retrieving the teddy from the sludge, Benjamin sat beside the child, and put his arm around him.
Bullied kids need a comforting shoulder. Ben knew, because he’d had none.
