1
Alphabet soup.

(Einstein never had it)

Tasty.

(The wonders of MSG)

Fun.

(To look at)

Healthy.

(Debatable)

Can slow down aging.

(Perhaps)

2
He sings.
A-B-C-D-E-F-

He pauses.
Listens to the dripping
in the kitchen sink.

G-H-I-J-K-L-
Pauses again.
Listens to the ticking
of the clock on the kitchen wall.

M-N-O-P-Q-R-
Pauses again.
Looks up to the ceiling.
Thinks. Blinks. Frowns.
Trying to figure out something.

"What comes after R again?"
he hollers out, his face
red with irritation, frustration.

"And I am not eating this soup
until I get my Spiderman suit!"
he protests, pushing the bowl away.

His wife steps closer
wipes his lips dry,
pushes the bowl back near him,
kisses his forehead,
heaves a heavy sigh, shakes her head,
then goes back to the sink
to continue washing the dishes.

---

Papa Osmubal writes from Macau, Southern China.