Rome

He stretched his neck to the side and said with a smirk, "When in Rome."

Two seconds later he was double-fisting, a shot of cheap tequila in his left hand, an even cheaper pint of beer in his right. If I had to guess, it was probably Natural Ice. But I didn't guess, that way I wouldn't have to deal with being right.

I was the sober girlfriend at the bar in charge of the car keys. Again.

I didn't bother pointing out the fact that we weren't in Rome, but in a shitty highway town somewhere inbetween Arkansas and Oklahoma. Nor did I point out that we only had a few dollars left and a few more states to go til we reached California. What does he care about gas prices when it's Ted's birthday.

"Shots all around!"

Pulling his ear down to my mouth I asked, "Who's Ted?"

He shrugged me off. Another shot of tequila burned his throat. "Ted is everything I've ever learned and loved about life."

This, slurred, between stumbles. This, slurred, as I clenched the keys to the pickup inside my fist. I didn't bother mentioning that he's only known Ted for three quarters of an hour. Nor did I point out that he isn't capable of learning anymore than he is capable of loving.

Nobody noticed when I slipped out the front door of the tavern and into the parking lot. Nobody saw the dust kick up into the air as his suitcase smacked onto the dirt, busting open and spilling his ripped levi's and stained drawers into the space beside me. Nobody heard the engine kick into life and steer toward the open highway, destination California.

When in Rome my ass.

Spring Showers

It falls, softly.
I watch the pavement bleed
to grey, one drop
drop
at a time.

Through the cracks they come.
In lines, in mobs, frantic.
Weavers, Jack Jumbers, Bullets by the hundreds.
Escaping
one painful inch
inch
at a time.

The worms come out, too
Sliding up from below.
Snaking their way through the soil,
the sidewalk.
But the rains just too hard.
They start floating away
away
one life at a time.
one life at a time.