things I know I can eat when I’m
walking with the monster—fruit,
light yogurt, several cans of soup.
Probably rather impolite
to expect Brad to feed me too.
I also buy a toothbrush,
toothpaste, and a hairbrush.
Mom neglected to pack mine.
She also forgot to include my
makeup, but I can’t afford more
than mascara, at least not until
my next paycheck.
Paycheck
to paycheck. Hey, I think I get
that now. It really does suck.
As I’m driving down Red
Rock Road, my cell rings.
The caller ID makes me
happy. Pissed. Relieved. Pissed.
I flip open the phone. “Where
the hell have you been?”
Hey, you okay? What’s wrong,
anyway? Are you hurt? In jail?
What kind of help do you need?
I tell Trey what’s up, but really,
really want to know, “What took
you so fucking long to call?”
I just got your message. My cell’s
battery died and I couldn’t find
my charger. Just got another one.