oppressive heat is over
fall marine layers are back
cool morning clouds
crisp evening breeze
perfect weather
jad loves to ride
create wolf pup dens
with sofa cushions and pillows
covered with a sheet
light candles and incense
build construction sites
watch mechanical videos
rhyme words
create silly names
sing when he's really happy
make jokes
want to be a police
jad's mom petition in court
for full legal custody
extended twice
now set for january
as negotiations continue
through lawyers
and a psychologist
thank earth for vegan pediatricians
no vaccines for jad
low risk for serious complications
even for travel to india
no dairy for allergies
avoid gluten and sugar
inquired about homeschooling
four and a half
with full day at school
five days a week
8am to 3pm
poor child
the only minority
among middle class white children
half a hour from home
already sick this week
last school and year
sick 20 times
before she let him stay home
how many times will it take this time
gone are 6 hour daddy days
visitation is 3 - 6pm
commute time alone is 1 hour
dinner and bath another hour
routine triumphs everything
quality time with dad
less important than
a child machine
functioning like clockwork
throughout its day
doing the same activities
at the same time
day in and day out
day after day
programed into a robot
to accommodate parents' time
and adults' eternal quest
for more achievement and success
