You made your way down
to the gas station
for your third day of work
in the heaviest fall of snow
since the year you were born
15 years before
and Mr. Fredericks was there
limping about the forecourt
around the pumps
with a big broom
brushing away snow
hey
he said
right you can try sweep
off the snow about the pumps
make it easy
for the customers
to get in and out
their cars and trucks
and handed you the broom
I’ll be upstairs
if you need me
just press the bell
under the desk
in the kiosk
at the front
and off he went
limping inside
snow still fell
there was a cold chill
about your limbs
your fingers ached
you pushed broom
shoved snow off
about the pumps
until all
were temporarily clear
then went inside
just as Miss Billings
rode along side
of the gas station
on her motorbike
then walked up
to the kiosk
where you’d taken refuge
you the new kid?
she asked
you nodded
I’m Miss Billings
she said
I work here too
in the back office
doing accounts
help out in the forecourt
if needed or the shop
in back if you’re overrun
she stood there
in her glasses
blonde hair covered
by a scarf
a black leather jacket
zipped to the neck
and helmet in one hand
white overalls coming down
to her knees
followed down
to her ankles
were red wool stockings
and white boots
on her feet
she stared at you
her eyes scrutinizing
the customer
is always right
did Mr Fredericks
tell you that?
yes
you said
well he’s right
so don’t matter
if the customer’s thick as ****
or **** stupid
they’re always right ok
so be tight Kid
tight as *****
in the *******
in a freezing shower
get it right
you nodded
and she walked in
and disappeared
into the back office
with a slow sway
of her of hips
her words
like chisel blows
to your ears
she about 21
to your 15
innocent
boyish years
she seeping
into your imagination
not knowing then
that her beauty
was probably
some marine’s image
for secret ************
Jan 21, 2013
Jan 21, 2013 at 2:17 AM UTC
You made your way down
to the gas station
for your third day of work
in the heaviest fall of snow
since the year you were born
15 years before
and Mr. Fredericks was there
limping about the forecourt
around the pumps
with a big broom
brushing away snow
hey
he said
right you can try sweep
off the snow about the pumps
make it easy
for the customers
to get in and out
their cars and trucks
and handed you the broom
I’ll be upstairs
if you need me
just press the bell
under the desk
in the kiosk
at the front
and off he went
limping inside
snow still fell
there was a cold chill
about your limbs
your fingers ached
you pushed broom
shoved snow off
about the pumps
until all
were temporarily clear
then went inside
just as Miss Billings
rode along side
of the gas station
on her motorbike
then walked up
to the kiosk
where you’d taken refuge
you the new kid?
she asked
you nodded
I’m Miss Billings
she said
I work here too
in the back office
doing accounts
help out in the forecourt
if needed or the shop
in back if you’re overrun
she stood there
in her glasses
blonde hair covered
by a scarf
a black leather jacket
zipped to the neck
and helmet in one hand
white overalls coming down
to her knees
followed down
to her ankles
were red wool stockings
and white boots
on her feet
she stared at you
her eyes scrutinizing
the customer
is always right
did Mr Fredericks
tell you that?
yes
you said
well he’s right
so don’t matter
if the customer’s thick as ****
or **** stupid
they’re always right ok
so be tight Kid
tight as *****
in the *******
in a freezing shower
get it right
you nodded
and she walked in
and disappeared
into the back office
with a slow sway
of her of hips
her words
like chisel blows
to your ears
she about 21
to your 15
innocent
boyish years
she seeping
into your imagination
not knowing then
that her beauty
was probably
some marine’s image
for secret ************
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