Five in Six Boys - Holly McNish

the headline reads:

one in six boys aged six to fifteen have a positive view of andrew tate

the headline does not read:

three in six boys think andrew tate is a prick

two in six boy do not know who he is

four in six boys

prefer riding their bike into town with their mates

than listening to a grown up angrily shout through a screen

five in six boys think their mum is alright

roll their eyes when she hugs them

will remember the sound of her laugh when she's gone

five in six boys

have baked biscuits

or muffins

do not want to strangle a girlfriend,

think rape is abysmal, want love,

think love is confusing, do not want a fist in their face

five in six boys think their dad's jokes

are occasionally funny, have a friend who likes

the same music they like,

worry

about the look of their bodies

in swim shorts

love the feeling

of crying from laughter

five in six boys feel nervous about holding the hand of a crush

privately cry when a person they fancy doesn't fancy them back

without seeking to hurt them

five in six boys are worried they'll fail their exams

feel stupid sometimes, are scared by the thought of the future

five in six boys think flowers are beautiful

will not use the word beautiful

will be bullied if they use the word beautiful

about flowers

still, five in six boys said thank you for dinner

helped take the plates to the kitchen

smile when a kitten curls up on their lap

and six in six boys sleep sounder

when someone who loves them

plants a kiss on their forehead

or just quietly whispers goodnight