Only one thought comes
readily to mind.
I Get Home
A little before four. The house
is dark. Silent. Everyone fast
asleep. Except me, of course.
Rather than chance waking up
Hunter, I think I’ll run on down
to the all-night convenience
mart and pick up an application.
Almost every kid in the valley
works at the Sev for a month or two,
while waiting to go off to college,
get married, or find a better job. It
pays minimum wage, and the work
sucks, but beggars cannot be choosers.
I park off to one side, check out who’s
inside. Believe it or not, there’s a guy
playing a slot machine. They have slots
in Nevada 7-Elevens. And grocery
stores, airports. Anywhere people get bored.
Even up-all-night bored. Turns out I know
the guy behind the counter. Grady’s a year
older than me and a total loser type.
He’ll probably never work anywhere
but at the Sev, which is doubtless
just fine by him. “Hey, Grady,” I say.
He gives me a total loser smile,
the kind that gives you the creeps.
Hey, Kristina. You’re up early.