by Thomas Hobohm

You learn that there’s oil in everything. You learn how to hold a pan. You learn what silver sounds like. You learn that bacon grease is a border-collie with a violent mouth. You let it lick your forearms. You learn to use a little MSG. You learn the complete history of the hamburger. You learn it all for him. He’s a boy in a birdcage. He’s a mango. He plays the trumpet. He likes toast with warm butter and jam. He has a big mouth. He has strong teeth. He could swallow you whole.