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closing time,
a vanished sun,
the December
snow and rain
falling sideways
soaking and
frosting everything
and it was
a GMC Jimmy
and she parked
it right in front
of the door
wandered in
her and
her teenage
daughter or
maybe
granddaughter
I couldn't tell
because
she was
far from put
together as
her hair was
wet and greasy
and her glasses
sat on top of
a bulbous nose
which sat upon
a creased face
which sat upon
a stooped body
underneath a
leopard print
jacket that seemed
like so much
camouflage,
probably
hiding cigarette
ashes and
French fry crumbs.
my truck,
she said,
we just left
the mall and
I think there's
something with
the left front
tire because
it thumps and
the truck shakes
and I was ready
to lock the door,
ready to drink
beer and meet
some friends and
watch football
while studying
the heaving
breasts that are
always leaning
over the bar.
I took her keys
and drove her
Jimmy through
my parking lot
and the tires
were so bald
that it slid
every time I
turned but there
was no shaking
or clunking
but a growl
you need tires
and probably
a hub assembly
I said as she
shivered outside
the front door
and I wasn't
going to let
her back in
unless she
wanted to
buy something
I know, she
said, but I
got laid off
and moved
back here
to stay with
her, and she
nodded at
the teenage
girl who
was staring
at the moon
and chewing
her own hair, I moved
back here because
He
left and
do you have
used tires?
no, I said,
and I thought
about karma
as I spit on
the ground
and walked
back in the
shop. I locked
the door and
tugged on it twice.
a hollow holiday,
a half-formed
casual circle
of bad skinned
pale faces
splashed crimson
red, thin
red lips held
in place with
smiles contrived
and
the blood is
common,
connected,
and has
to be thinned
with beer
or maybe
scotch or
wine because
no one laughs
or smiles
or even
likes each
other when
the blood
moves
so slow
and thick
and true.
David LaBounty lives in Royal Oak, Michigan with his wife and two young sons. He served in the Navy for four years and worked at a gold mine in the Nevada desert. He's had jobs as a mechanic, a reporter and a salesman. His novel, The Trinity, has just been released by Silverthought Press.