palms magnets and names rise to plastic, letting boys know they've been there.

Confidence is turquoise and red upholds smiling, boys in uniform, grown boys,  

      cut-out

and glitter shapes boys hands. Empty magnets gap their amalgam mouths. Uniforms

mark a boy heavier to praise, harder to keep. Camouflage. Choking up on the bat.

'Jeremy's a nice kid, but I'd say Iraq has changed him.' A blood blister forms. 'Are

you still sure you can carry me?' asked the little boy.