you do not like
being called
“a sweet boy”
by your teacher

you even go so far
as to tell me later
with furrowed brow
wrinkled nose
pursed lips
and hands clenched
into chubby little fists
at your sides
that you “hate
being called
a sweet boy”

and i
cannot stop myself
from reaching out and
tickling your neck
to elicit
a relaxed giggle
and the
sweetest smile