Buying Stock

　　by Denise Duhamel

　　"……The use of condoms offers substantial protection， but does not

　　guarantee total protection and that while

　　there is no evidence that deep kissing has resulted in

　　transfer of the virus， no one can say that such transmission

　　would be absolutely impossible."

　　——The Surgeon General， 1987

　　I know you won't mind if I ask you to put this on.

　　It's for your protection as well as mine——Wait.

　　Wait.　Here， before we rush into anything

　　I've bought a condom for each one of your fingers. And here——

　　just a minute——Open up.

　　I'll help you put this one on， over your tongue.

　　I was thinking：

　　If we leave these two rolled， you can wear them

　　as patches over your eyes. Partners have been known to cry，

　　shed tears， bodily fluids， at all this trust， at even the thought

　　of this closeness.