I was more Vegan that time I was in the hospital
having my tonsils out – living on softserve
and butterscotch candies.

I watched that kid next to me
in his red plaid Dutchmaid pajamas
read comic books full of talking animals
and tell his mother to bring him something
to do – anything that didn’t involve reading

Later, she brought him a radio
and the little bastard listened to talk radio for hours

When my mother came in, she asked me
If there was anything she could get for me
i shook my head, glancing at him,
“wait…” i rasped, “my red pajamas.”