Kait Walser
Today the Role of Your Childhood Babysitter Will Be Played by the Electoral College
Your new babysitter has certain ways of doing things
—experience, let’s say—yeah. Tried and true. Says
he’s been around the block. Not his first rodeo, kiddo.
So, when you’re hungry at 11:40 am, he lets you know
that lunchtime is at twelve noon, on the dot. A little
discipline won’t kill you and why don’t you just set
the table while you wait. Think about what you want
and your little sister can help, too. Just the napkins
now, we can’t trust her with porcelain, prongs, or
serrated edges at her age. And what would she like
by the way? Peanut butter and jelly? Yummy yum!
Now, hang on. Mommy doesn’t what? Mommy left
me in charge. We have to hear everyone out. Wait
for your turn. Now, me, I think a sandwich sounds
delish. Allergies? Well then what do you propose
we eat? Grilled cheese? I don’t know about all that.
Besides, your sister said please. I didn’t hear you
say much in the way of please or excuse me while
you were talking about those allergies. How’s this:
today, you get to choose the flavor of the jelly
in our PB and Js. Alright? Fair is fair. Now dig in, kids.
—Submitted on 11/16/2020
Kait Walser Her poetry has appeared in Snapdragon, Not Very Quiet, Germ, and Ruminate, as well as in anthologies including In Absentia: Reflections on the Pandemic (Bicycle Comics Productions, 2020). She holds an MFA from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Penn., and was a 2015 Delaware Highlands Conservancy artist-in-residence. Walser lives and writes in New York City.
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