every once in a while to
remember when
in the shower he lathers his face with soap then opens his eyes wide
letting the soap in to burn them
theyll never burn as they did
when he was a boy
Keep your eyes shut his
grandmother told him in her broken EnglishPolish lilt I should not have
to tell youyou’re a big boy, you’re not dense, you know better. Keepkeep your eyes shut so the soap does not
get in them. Your eyes burning is your
fault.
they burned
he sobbed
she didnt comfort him
she knew his tears would wash the
soap out of his eyes then the burning
would stop
going to bed after bathing his
father just returned home from workeating in the kitchen at the table with his
mother at his elbow said Whats wrong with your eyes
Your boy can’t
keep his eyes shut when I wash his hair and face.
Joe.
Yes Papa
Why don’t you keep your eyes
closed?
Because
Because is not an answer, Joe.
You answer me because Papa
That’s different.
I do not see that it is different
Enough. Answer me. Why don’t you
keep your eyes closed?
Because
I know one day when I open them
the burn will be a sting and it will not make me cry
the adults looked around at each
other their eyes then returning to him
You know his grandmother said it
is okay to cry if something hurts.
Not everything that hurts is
worth crying about
they looked back and forth again between themselves
No his mother said not everything
that hurts is worth crying about.
Thats what I think
Why do you think that? his father
asked
I dont know I just think that
I think that when I hurt and dont
crybecause it is not worth crying about
Ill be happier about myself
few things made him cry
if he cried he knew what made him cry was very worthwhile
he cried unashamedly
no one could provoke him to shame
1301, Friday,
4 5. 18
1350, Twosday,
8 5. 18
