If you have reached this story by searching for Haiti, go directly to the chapter titled "My Parents, Mr. Neptune And A Castro Beard."
Not About Chips At All
By Roseyone
I'd said chips
It was a rare request
For a more rare indulgence
We sat together and made a list
four items including chips
I would go get it
Then
You said that you would
go get everything
you would pay
Chips we confirmed
Lay's small bag
I waited
You returned with Cheez-its
It was something better
You'd decided
your money Uh-huh
Eat it or weep
I could have let it go
I was tired enough to just
ball it up and forget
Then I recalled
This is our relationship
and you are testing
boundaries again
and again and again
like fucking flowing water
easiest route
wearing down
My role is to catch you
To give a damned dam
about assholery
in these petty ways
and reaffirm the boundaries
ALL THE FUCKING TIME
We can agree together
You can volunteer to execute
But you only honor
Agreements after you've acted
like a douche
Must you? Must I call you on it?
Have you no control of it?
Don't blame me
I wasn't there
When Nana or Mama
didn't prove love enough
that one or two times
that you still can't
swallow
that loom much larger
in hindsight
than they ever could
have in real
life
I'd say you are like a teenager
but real teens only spend
part of a decade the way you are
You, in your third decade
On the way to your fourth
And still you pull the shitty shit moves
You'll go back in
and get chips
but only after I
1. remind of you of the list
we made that is still in your hand
2. remind you of how you gave
your word
3. I start to get the chips
as planned from the start
That last passes the
forever retest
with flying colors
Boundary proven once again
Yes this is a worthy mate
that you have
to be on you about
even that
little shit
you finally act and
there are Lay's chips
small bag
a rare indulgence
made less savory
By your shittiness
Next time
I'll get them
when I'm alone
You fucking baby
