Fending Nothing Off

At nine, he's cried twice in anticipation onlyof nightmares. He never had the bad dreams.The leering white woman who threatenedto poison Ruby Bridges did not cross

from the movie based-on-a-true-storyinto my son's sleep. Neither did the babiesbandied about by lawmakers the day his gradetoured the capitol. About the babies

he cried They might not get the care they need.We left before the law could pass. How shall I tell himThey might not? I remember when the soles of his feetwere fat with never standing, when he slept

with his arms outstretched and one would spasm.He was fending nothing off. How shall I tell himyou can't stopper venom in the jar of a dream?How If it were nightmares, I'd save you?