broken screened door slams loudly, echoing the empty street
summer air creeps defeating a rickety a/c
shelves are stocked with basics: chex mix fruit by the foot
wd-40 wieners made from real beef
refrigerators buzz in the corner filled with 1% milk and budweiser
grizzled proprietor behind a scratched
countertop half a jar full of money for the Toledo
children�s hospital. a child ogles candy, picks up a sugar stick,
licks sweet powder off grubby palm. his mother slaps
the offending hand "how dare you" spanks him
reaches for her water-stained wallet
"it's okay" the old man says hands the child another

2004

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