friday shorts

Zack has acclimated to the time change. He curls around my middle, and in the dark, he fingers my eyebrows before comparing them to his own.

He decides his are softer, but mine? They are like rainbows.

Somehow I know he is grinning.

*

Lexi hands me a pamphlet, outlining the upcoming Talk about Puberty. Her crinkled nose tells me all I need to know.

"WEAREGOINGTOTALKABOUTTHISATSCHOOL? Wwwwhhhyyyy?"

When I try to explain that not every kid has this information, she trails off, trying to imagine a world where mothers don't initiate awkward conversations, utter embarrassing words.

Not that she'll ever know.