TIMES FOR

Times for drinking disinfectant in the classroom

When you come back to school
after two days in bed
with  gastro
to find that
your  classroom  teddy bears
stand accused
of spreading headlice
and have been
stuffed into a black plastic bag
(knotted at the top)
and locked up in
the  large classroom cupboard
pending investigations.

And later
when cleared
of all charges
they are returned
to the toy box
only to be vomited on
by some kid
who caught your germs.

Times for slashing your wrists with dental floss:

When your aged parent says
“Go and clean my teeth”