Chicken Nuggets on Ice

Alejandro says he needs to go to the nurse

Some students
ask for health room passes when they're bored,
or don't want to work
Alejandro always wants to work
Alejandro is wildly enthusiastic about everything 
Best student ever.

I ask Alejandro what to put for the reason
Headache?
Stomachache?
Nah, says Alejandro
My chicken nuggets hurt!

I change chicken nuggets to private area
and send him on his way

It's not the first time I've heard a boy say chicken nuggets

"Ms G, during PE, the ball hit Alex right in the chicken nuggets!
and just the day before,
Carlos, who has the worst case of (unmedicated) ADHD on the planet
suddenly announced his chicken nuggets hurt
I mimed a tear falling down my cheek
and got a big smile in return
Carlos just likes blurting out weird shit.

But Alejandro seems serious 
so off to the nurse he goes
returning with an ice pack
he diligently holds
on the, er.
affected area
continuing to do so
even as we're walking in line to lunch

With all this twelve-year-old boy talk
of chicken nuggets
I'm glad chicken nuggets
are nowhere near
my favorite fast food.