Id order toast because it was cheap, on
top of which Id spread butter, jelly - both being free
I never nodded out, unlike so many others,
who, like me, ordered a minimal amount of food so they could use the bathroom.
Id never get wrecked either, nor would
come in that way; Id arrive high, but respectfully so; would eat toast,
drink coffee, smoke cigarettes; stare out the window.
Hello? Sir? The waitress had dyed
blonde hair, a weary face, weathered body - certainly someones mother -
yet her exasperated tone betrayed a tincture of concern.
Huh? The junkie, in a dirty coat,
with long natty hair, jerked awake and glared around, as though he were a
doctor whod just worked an 18-hour shift and was indignant that someone
should rouse him.
The waitress shambled to the table in front of
mine; we made eye contact, I smiled. But her eyes narrowed, her frown pierced
me like daggers - I thought, Fuck you, even though it was only what you saw.
And when she picked up the tip and walked away, I despised the cooling
relief.
Finished my toast, smoked a cigarette, left a
tip. But as I walked to the register, I kept my head down; and went back out
into the world that is no more.