The Incident

Mom I need to tell you something

The hazel eyes shift far to the left and up

Like the prime suspect on a bad TV cop show

It may not be a lie that comes out next

But if it is the truth it has been carefully

Massaged

You see
I had to tell my sister a secret
It wasn't really a secret
It was like a joke
Not really a joke just something
I wanted to tell her
You know
Quietly

Umm Hmm

And

Well you see

I was chewing 

This

Gum.

AndIdidntmeantogetitinherhairbutitisinherhairImeanreallyinherhairanditwontcomeoutandIImeanWEneedyourhelpplease

A deep breath in.

An inside count to three

Mom steels herself 

And prepares for the extraction