“Don’t Worry, Nobody Will Laugh At You”

“Puppy Blanket” is the sort of puppy blanket that is of genus blanket shaped like a puppy, not genus blanket used by a puppy. Kina has had it since before she could walk; it used to be a spacious and cozy wrap for chilly babies that would make her look like a cartoon dog, and we love it. It is impressive and touching that we still have this blanket draped over the back of the rocking chair in our living room, and Kina still uses it every night when we read her books. Because the dog-eared hood of the blanket is too small for her head now, she puts her toes where her head should be, making a cushy little foot pocket for reading time. When she’s feeling boisterous, she drapes the blanket over my head and mocks me as I sit there in silence. But only Kina can mock Daddy in his puppy blanket raiment; no others may laugh at him—not even his coworkers, whom Kina presumably expects will ignore the spectacle. Zoom culture does strange things to all of us.

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