• His friends called him Theo, the teachers knew him as Ted and his parents, when they were really mad, dared to utter ‘Theodore James Moss’. Even in front of friends. Especially in front of friends. They considered embarrassing him their sole occupation, but he hid it until his friends left. Arguments didn’t last long given the types of consequences his parents came up with. Speaking out of turn gets the toilet seat taken away; argue and you get grounded for 2 months with no comforts or chance of parole. He was obedient nonetheless. So when the baby pictures were passed around like they were some type of trophy, he smiled and laughed, all embarrassed like. His friends would laugh all cruel like. Girlfriends giggled and tittered all gossip like with his mom. Granted his mom would ask him why he brought new people virtually every day and none of his previous friends. His only response was ‘These are my new friends. Everyone else is busy, but they’ll visit someday soon.’ Thank god his mom had a one track mind and forgot the promise every time.