Fifty-fifty in the mind

He walks in nimbly, with a marksheet he wants to hide
From the loving parents who say he is their pride.
Fifty-fifty in the kid’s mind: to admit failure, or simply lie
And drown deeper in his guilt as each night passes by?

A tiny morsel in her mouth, and two bellies to feed,
She faces a dilemma between love and greed,
Fifty-fifty in the cat’s mind: save it for her kitten, or have her fill
And let the young one sleep hungry in the December chill?

A plump young lady eyes a succulent chocolate slab
That impedes her will to fight her ugly flab.
Fifty-fifty in her mind: to resist, or to surrender
And shift her slimming deadline to another date on her calendar?

Hoping for his maiden win, he hits the shot of his last set,
And the ball stops for a split second as it hits the tip of the net.
Fifty-fifty in the player’s mind: Will today be his game,
Or will he yet again return, hanging his head in shame?

The penniless, abandoned old man holds a prescription slip,
There’s a car at the crossroad that might offer him a tip.
Fifty-fifty in his mind: stoop down and beg, or stand tall and firm,
No matter if his illness makes him scream and squirm?

With a prayer on his lips and a racing heartbeat,
He sees her approach him, and he gets cold feet.
Fifty-fifty in the lover’s mind: Will she hold his hand and smile,
Or will she walk far away, far, many a mile?