Saurkraut

There was nothing especially tough
about Perez.
Nothing that would explain why
the other 8th grade boys would
elevate him
to this level of bully.
In fact, he didn't even like
the pressures of always being on,
always coming up with new insults and torments
for the boys that he would otherwise
like to befriend,
but he was caught in a boyhood snare
compelled by immature facial hair
peeking out
like saurkraut
in an overstuffed bun.