It was naptime

I jumped around my room

until I heard Mom coming up the stairs

I dove into bed and properly covered up

She entered and stood by the bed silently

This makes no sense to me now, but as a kid

I had been told an important truth:

People stop breathing when they sleep

To complete the ruse and get away with it

I lay there motionless

The tiniest of breaths moving in and out

my face positioned strategically toward the wall

She had to believe I was asleep

I tortured myself in the ploy

Mom played her role with dead silence

and waited while her gullible boy

played possum