He reeked of a pleasant childhood. Of teeth brushed twice a day, annual physicals, and 10 hours of sleep each night. Of baloney and mayo sandwiches with the crusts cut off and a bag of Lays chips on the side. Of ironed jeans, oxford shirts and Sunday trips to Grandma’s. Of little league uniforms and a dad who coached. Of bedtime stories and a mom who tucked him in. Of a first job mowing lawns and a first girlfriend named Jennifer. Of camping trips to the lake and embarrassing old photographs of naked babies . Of a bubbly little sister who taught him the macarena in the kitchen before the big dance. Of extra credit and a college fund. Of frat parties, finals, and football pools. Of 401ks, a pretty wife and well behaved children. Of graying at the temples, an old boys network, and vacations on the Cape. Of big white teeth, all the better to eat you with.
Chicken's Consigliere 
All that contained in a snapshot of that little bare bum. I am always amazed how fine writers can go so beautifully with a prompt.
LikeLike
Aw. Thank you Smitten:-)
LikeLike
You made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end with those last seven words, Chicken! Eek!
LikeLike
I know! They are kind of ominous, aren’t they? It was not where I was going with the post. It kind of plopped out onto the page and made me laugh so I kept it.
LikeLike
This is absolutely wonderful, Chicken. Beautiful writing.
LikeLike
Hi Jayne, you think so? Thanks so much.
LikeLike
I’m unsure of the genesis, but it’s a nice piece of writing.
LikeLike
Hi Mike-I was thinking of my youngest, who is 12 years younger than his next sibling. He has a pretty nice life underway. The phrase “reeks of a pleasant childhood” popped into my head and I started with that. I think I ended up, somehow, with a mental picture of JFK and that’s where the big teeth came in.Funny, the twists and turns of the writing experience. Thanks.
LikeLike
Delightful extrapolation from a baby’s bum to a socioeconomic archetype, but happily time combines our differences in greater fields of variety. We get to live in funny times, and hopefully meaningful times. Nice work!
LikeLike
Hi Geo, everyone has gotten to live in funny times. Some funnier than others, I guess….the meaningful part, though, I feel that’s what we bring to it. It can be as meaningful or devoid of meaning as we make it. At least in retrospect. In the moment it is all meaningful. Or is it the other way around? Ha.
LikeLike
Chicken, I sent you a reply to your reply to my email. Is that too confusing? Oh well, this is just an alert to let you know to check!
LikeLike