My Life as a Boiled Egg

"What happened?"

asked my mother

"to that boy there, up upon the wall

the one playing with the orange plastic ball?"

"It takes twelve minutes to harden a boiled egg" 

 I replied, as she sighed.

She'd got used to my caustic, cynical humour

my shell had taken 50 years to make,
twice in that time it took a break.
Hospital & then Prison
because my mind was trying to find
a place of sanctuary  

no longer the shy smile and sensitivity

"It's every man for himself

and dog eat dog"
"He became a writer" I laughingly lied
she was so happy, she broke down and cried.
"He doesn't get paid for it though"