James

James was finally invited to a Birthday party.

The other guests gave him the pointy cardboard hat

with the blue and orange clowns on it—

Somebody says that it suits him well.

His straw-colored hair sticks up in every direction;

he looks more like a scarecrow

than a boy.

They ask him to move over when they cut the cake

because his tongue lolls out of his mouth and his eyes

are crossed.

They refuse to look at him as he stuffs white, spongy wedges

into his drooling mouth.

They don't turn their scowling faces

to his frosting smudged smile.