Reggie

His mother strapped herself in

when she was pregnant with him.

Reggie was different.

He had unusual friends.

Some hidden in hedges,

others he kept in his jacket pockets.

When he visited us,

he always had friends with him.

When we were alone,

he'd show them to me.

Reggie talked to his friends,

sometimes he would bite them

spitting out bits into the log pile.

He never let me touch his friends.

Reggie never stayed long,

when he left he had new friends

hidden in his pockets.

'A small price,' Mother explained.

'It's only until you're man enough

to chop kindling wood.'