The first man I allowed to cheat
in a game was my father,
who lied and didn’t even notice.
I was seven and baffled
—it was only Parcheesi—and
I protested, but not long.
The wound in his eyes
looked dangerous, so open.
I quickly memorized
a new set of rules
that no one ever spoke of.
Let him win, lest he be damaged.
Let him win, lest he damage me.
