That's My New Boyfriend

It started with one of my 6th grade reading groups.
A story about Blackbeard's ghost.
Students commenting on his mangey appearance.

Hey, be nice, I said
That's my new boyfriend.

Silence
Looking at each other
The blowing out sound that precedes a guilty laugh
Followed by five happy guilty laughs.

So why stop there?

My new boyfriends have included Mr. Six,
a scowling, old Chinese emperor,
a minotaur,
and Henry VIII.

I don't know if my students are laughing at me,
or with me.

I don't know if I'm laughing at me
or with me.

All I know is if I really thought about it
It wouldn't be funny.

And with each passing year,
even less so.