Girl at the Gas Station

by James Babbs

i.
the girl at
the gas station
emerges from
the storeroom
fighting hiccups
and
she laughs
says
excuse me
and
I do
because she’s
beautiful

ii.
when the girl at
the gas station
laughs
it reminds me
of the chimes
hanging in
the tree
outside
my bedroom
window
I think
the people
next door
put them there

iii.
the girl at
the gas station
has several
piercings in
her ears
wears earrings
matching
the stud in
her nose and
when she
opens her mouth
I see
the metal in
her tongue
wondering
what else
she has pierced
but I’m
too afraid
to ask

iv.
the girl at
the gas station
says
good afternoon
at the same time
I say
how are you
so that
our voices
cancel
each other
out

v.
the girl at
the gas station
stocks cigarettes
from behind
the counter
her back to me
when I
come in

vi.
the girl at
the gas station
knows my name
because
I always
use my
credit card
and sign
the receipt but
don’t know hers
because
she never
wears her
name tag and
everyone
even
the old women
just call her
beautiful

vii.
the girl at
the gas station
argues with
somebody on
the phone as
I stand there
waiting and
she says
asshole
before slamming
down the phone
turning to me
all smiles

viii.
the girl at
the gas station
has never
been married
but
somebody told me
she has
a child
and if
that’s true
so what

ix.
the girl at
the gas station
isn’t
the same girl
from yesterday
but
she smiles
doesn’t seem to
mind being
someone else