He asked me to sit at this laptop
And pretend to work
As if I don’t ever work

At his direction
I sit here and type
Then click
Then write
Then go back to typing

I do this “work” in a large font
So that I can read what I’m writing
Without my glasses
Because who wants to wear glasses
When they’re being videotaped

I even put on a bit of makeup
Added a bracelet for effect
Which is rare for me these past few weeks
Stuck at home as we are and going stir crazy
During this pandemic era

I wonder if I’ll end up on his YouTube channel
Wouldn’t that be cool
My claim to fame forever captured
As he zooms in on my face and rapidly typing fingers
(Because that’s what he told me to do)

Out of the corner of my eye
I see him moving this way and that
The camera a big black blurb
Because of course I can’t see without my glasses on

Moving a vase of purple flowers closer to my laptop
He sits on the table next to me
His hot teenage breath tickling my ear
But I stoically ignore him

Even though I am starting to feel like
Squirming bacteria squashed down on a petri dish
I will cater to his whims a while longer
Because I am his mommy
And I want to him to be happy