Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs (the cereal)

“Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs!” I exclaim, always

When Courtney, the babysitter, inquires what I want

For a snack on those languid summer days—

Afternoons in the cool kitchen, watching Animaniacs on the mini TV, I’m a true gourmand.

When Courtney, the babysitter, fixes me what I want—

Spherules of puffs floating in 2% milk,

Swirling afternoons spent watching Animaniacs. A true gourmand:

I ladle spoonful after spoonful of peanut buttery, chocolatey silk.

Spherules of puffs floating in 2% milk.

“One day you’re gonna turn into a Reese’s Peanut Butter Puff,” Courtney, one day, decries.

Spoonful after spoonful of nutty, chocolate silk,

“You are what you eat.” Then, Defensive Me: “Am not! That’s a buncha lies!”

“You’ll turn into a Reese’s Peanut Butter Puff,” Courtney decries.

From the bottom of my empty My Little Mermaid bowl, a faded Ariel and Flounder wave,

“You are what you eat!” Self-denial Me: “No, that’s a lie!”

when deep into the bloodstream travels the sugar I crave.

From the bottom of my empty bowl, a faded Ariel and Flounder wave

Next day, Look! I see she has drawn me as a Reese’s Puff monstrosity!

Deep in the bloodstream hides the sugary goodness I crave.

When they return home from work, I inform my parents of this atrocity:

“Courtney has drawn me as a Reese’s Puff monstrosity!”

In her caricature: my torso swollen to a Puff like Wonka’s Violet Beauregarde,

When they return home, I cannot stand by this atrocity:

“Fire her! Fire her now!” I plead with my whole heart.

Mid-section ballooned to a Puff like Wonka’s Violet Beauregarde,

“I know what I like and I like what I like and that’s not what I’m like,” I brood-think.

“Fire her! Fire her now!” I plead with my whole heart,

But the tale just turns my folks tickled pink.

“I know what I like and I like what I like,” I think,

Afternoons on those languid summer days.

A true gourmand, just tickled pink.

“Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs!” I exclaim. Always.