Seduced
by the blurb
and the smell
of printed pages
I admit
I succumbed
to temptation
and opened
the cover.
Carefully,
mindful of the
exchange card.

Telling myself
I had to be sure
the first page
would hold
your attention,
I sampled the prologue.
And my fingers kept
turning the pages.

Forgive me.
It was irresistible.
I could have been
one step behind him,
so real did it seem.

I know
you will enjoy it.
Happy Birthday, Gus.