Tao is standing between the yard boy and Mrs. Wilson with an oleander flower in his mouth. It is pink. Tao’s hair is golden. His eyes are blue. The yard boy removes the flower from the little boy’s mouth. “Poisonous,” the yard boy says. “What is it!” Mrs. Wilson cries. “Oleander,” the yard boy says. “Cut it down, dig it out, get rid of it,” Mrs. Wilson cries. “My precious child!” She imagines Tao being kidnapped, held for an astronomical ransom by men with acne.
