Using hindsight
I would say kidnapping the boy
to win the lady’s favor
was not my wisest move.

I simply thought
that brainwashing the kid
would give me better opportunities
with the mother
– which is good in theory,
but yields worse results
if the fingerprints of the plan
remain plainly visible.

I hoped perhaps
enough sleep deprivation
and forced ice cream enjoyment
would incite the kind of networking
that would breed further ties,
that would bring us all together
indeterminately.

Instead, all it did
was bring me in on charges
I don’t wish to repeat
for extended periods of time.

In retrospect
this was a plan
that required much
much more forethought.