...

(The Art of Caring)

She watches them grow

The little mischievous brats

And tries to convince them

Of the better things in life

Like picking up their things

And eating politely

And washing the dishes after dinner

.

(Not even

Her tender loving care

Can stop the little snots

From living how they want to)

Though, somewhere

In the back of her mind

She respects them for that

.

She first met

The little snot that insane old man dropped off

With a stamped toe

And a spit ball to the face

That kid had more problems

Than she could count

(She tries her best

But leading a group of mountain bandits

Doesn't really lend itself

To learning how to raise a child)

He seems fine, though,

If a little moody

(And if she makes sure

In the wintertime

To put the warm blankets

On the bottom shelf

Where he can reach,

Well,

She doesn't say anything)

.

The second kid comes along

Already joined at the hip

With the old man's brat

They plot and scheme

Like rats

Out in the woods

She doesn't see him much

But she's thankful:

(No matter what kind

Of insane idesas they're cooking up

She has a roll of bandages

And a bucket of water

At the ready)

The moody brat is smiling a little more

.

The old man's grandson

(Which is just as much a word

For doom inside a small body

As brat or snot)

Just adds a whole new level of crazy

Meat didn't last a day in their hut before

Now it doesn't last five seconds

Feeding one kid was hard enough

But as soon as that shitty guy's grandsons start getting along

A third kid is added to the equation

The one she's seen running around the forest

And it seems like everything's just gone to shit

(If she still boils water

So that the bath will be extra warm on cold nights

Then she doesn't mention it)

.

As she watches them make their way

Mischievously out the door

A long coat trailing behind them

And that bastard's snot nosed grandson

Talking about ramen

She just scowls

Because the alternative is smiling

(And she's a mountain bandit, for God's sake)

She's glad they have each other

Because if these three boys are together

Nothing will stop them

(She can't imagine

One of them without the others)