Back in the day
When the rain hit the roof
Pitter-patter didn't seem like much
But along with it came the truth
That nowadays things ain't so right
Nowadays, everything is a might

When you used to tell me
That I was the only one
Your sole source of confidence
All we had was lighthearted fun
But now, now it seems like a joke
A sick and twisted turn of fate
For the worst or the best I don't even know
But all I have now us this disgustingly clean slate
Hanging on a hook like writhing, live bait

So I start my shift  
At 10 AM
Hours upon hours
Of nonstop movement
And running down to the basement
Bringing up boxes
Of candy
And cups
And popcorn bags

Constant flows
Of people
Customers
"guests"
So we have to call them
"You don't call over the next CUSTOMER
To your register
You call over the next GUEST."
So says my manager
OK, *****
"Next guest, please,"
I utter with a smile

Can't wait to leave
It's around 5:30 PM now
A solid
7 1/2 hours
Through
My 8 hour
Shift
I'm helping my manager
Satisfy guests
Not customers
Filling bags
When they say popcorn
And filling cups
When they say soda
"I'll just have some nachos,"
A man says
His wife stands next to him
She smiles at me
I smile back
He looks at me then
"And John, too,"
He says
"John looks like a nice kid."
I can't help but beam
Some type of dumb grin
I look down at my nametag
Adjust it a bit
The next guest steps up
And then I remember
How much
I just want to leave already

I'm the thick of the night
When you can barely see
And the darkness
Encloses me
When you most afraid
And things seem too tight
I am there
In the thick of the night
So wrap your arms
All around me
And forget what
You're trying to be
Just remember
I'll always be
Right there
Up in a tree
In a corner
Of your mind

I'm the thick of the night
When you can barely see
And the darkness
Encloses me
When you most afraid
And things seem too tight
I am there
In the thick of the night
So wrap your arms
All around me
And forget what
You're trying to be
Just remember
I'll always be
Right there
Up in a tree
In a corner
Of your mind

Now, I don't know about you
But I know why they play love songs on the radio
Now, I don't know if it's true
But when you're riding down the highway
With the windows down
The air hits your face like water
Waking you up

19
***
Slurpees
Good music
Stunted moral judgment
Good friends, good times, good fun

Because there's no chance in Hell
Fires burning for a hundred nights and a day
No future as far as I can tell
Inside my warm bed where I lay
So just leave me alone
Yeah just walk on your own

Things broke in the morning
When everything was cool
I thought I was yearning
But your touch just makes me shudder
I had to leave the spot
And just let it die where it was
Because when things get too hot
I'm not one to stick around
No, I'm gone without a sound