He is so mad at his dad
that he stops for few long seconds
as his face gets redder
before he summons
the meanest thing he can think of
I wish a lip zipper was a real thing
and I could make you stop talking
he yells the last part
and stomps outside
where the cold air
does its instant trick
like water on hot coals
his tears fall without a sound
into the snow
as we walk to his class
and he uses my phone
to call his dad
where he does their goodbye ritual
into the wind.