Adaptation

When you’re a boy,

the new boy new boy

and probably because

your clothes are from Shopko,

not JCPenney’s

and your dad kills bugs for work

and your mom’s got a funny southern accent,

you will get teased,

you will get hazed,

and you will have to punch that popular kid in the jaw. Hard.

Then the hazing will end.

Then he will respect you.

Whatever that respect means.

But that is all you have now.