December 22, 2011 | 3:46 p.m.
saved by the bell.

the blood is back, with a bark yip yap and a bite.

so dad, lace up my boxing gloves tight ‘cause i am having to fight fights i thought i’d never need to fight. and ma, hold a cold penny to my ear, it is swollen hearing things hard to hear.

i have lost count how many rounds i’ve gotten up from the ground. win or loose, i long only for the sound of the bell to save me.