Dave
I remember my old friend Dave
who used to show up at Tim Horton's
with a loaded .45 or a twelve gauge riot gun
in the trunk of his Mazda
always loaded.
Them, not him
Sometimes to kill his father
for leaving his mother
sometimes just because..
A few times he showed up at my place
with tears and strain lining his face
to tell me that tonight was the night
we'd talk
sometimes I'd hold him
as I'm sure his mother did
before she resented him
(male you know, just like his father)
I was always prepared to find him hanging
when I went to his place
or to be called by the police
and told that he'd taken hostages at Tim Horton's
and was asking for me
I don't know why
Ten years later
I see him sometimes
he still lives locally
has four dogs, big ones
sixteen cats
is thirty years old and has never been laid
ever
reads a lot
mostly science fiction
still looking for steady work
Ten years later
I still expect the call
