She frowned at the
bottle of cough medicine
sitting there,
just there,
on her bedside table.
She reasoned
that she would take it
when she was
able.
Because of a bitter taste
she pushed away
the one substance
that would make her better.
Her conscience spoke,
"Fool! You child!
Only children have
zero self discipline.
Be a big girl, now."
So she breathed deeply
and enclosed the
bitter
syrup within the depths
of her mouth
and grew
up.