110 Espresso & Panini Bar

108 Union
February 23, 1996

Another customer wears a shiny black Lusty Lady jacket
with Have an Erotic Day written in pink.
I wonder why the woman with the heavy makeup
talks to him.
She looks attentive, as if he's the boss and she's the servant.
She plays with her rings under the table and recrosses her legs;
as if she has to; as if it's an interview.

When she leaves she wraps her burrito in her napkin.
He turns to open the door for her
and resumes his position next to her
as they walk in the Lusty Lady direction.

As I watch them leave
I fail to pretend that she's happily employed,
lives in a condo,
and doesnt' strip to feed the boyfriend
that beat her last Tuesday.

I fail to pretend that she will forget
the memories of her father, uncle, brother
molesting her.

or the way that man looked her over
before he graced her with a quick, curt
Hello
the familiar sound voiced by black hole operators.