In Room 104’s class play,
my seven-year-old and his classmates
all took their roles so seriously
and were so proud of their paper plate masks
and painted paper apron costumes.
They were absolutely darling.
Miraculously, they all remembered their lines
(even if most did stare at the floor while reciting them
and then hurriedly scurried off stage).
The play lasted no more than seven minutes total
and they all beamed when it was over,
excited for their cast party.
Oh, how I wish I could bottle up their sweet innocence
and unbridled enthusiasm.
I cringe at the thought of it fading away.
But at least for now,
in this moment,
it’s all right there,
alive and well
under dazzling construction paper stars.
