the most genius solutions

I

Jon Jon's wearing black shades to hide

his bloodshot eyes; he's been smoking a lot of pot

lately and doesn't have any eye drops.

"It's a fine line between education and ignorance,"

he says to somebody standing in line with him at

the Employment Security Commission.

Somebody nods and says, "You got that right."

II

Jon Jon's job counselor has a major attitude.

He'll get no coddling from her,

no nurturing,

no words of encouragement,

or even tough love.

He will get a couple of job leads to follow up on.

One of them is a customer service associate for an airline.

The other is a manufacturing job for a tobacco company.

"Apply online," his counselor tells him,

pointing to a bank of computers against the wall.

"Got some things to take care of first," Johnny says.

"I'll be back."

The counselor doesn't say anything. Her silence says it all.

III

Outside, Jon Jon runs into the somebody

he was conversing with in line, a middle-aged man

wearing a floppy hat and a cape,

smoking a White Owl Peach Sport.

"My life's kinda like a limbo without the doing or dying,"

the man says.

Jon Jon nods says,

"Well, brother, it's no easier at ground zero," and walks

to the bus stop where he meets a girl named Sandy.

Smoking Dunhills.

Drinking Southern Comfort with a

splash of lime out of a thermos.

Mascara running.

Throaty laugh.

Eyes without a past.

Lips painted purplish-red.

The necklace was bought at Stuckey's in New Mexico.

She turns to Johnny and says:

"Sometimes, when I come upon a stranger

I have the urge to kick them, especially when

they're at their most vulnerable.

When they're bending down to tie a child's shoelace

or confined to a wheelchair or forced to walk with

a cane or a walker or studying quietly at a table

in the library or just after having been given some

horrible news or standing in line at the unemployment

office or struggling to carry some heavy object or involved

in a deep prayer or having just been discharged from the

hospital after undergoing major surgery or while they're

crying or being born or dying. . .

That's when I fantasize about kicking them as hard as I can.

And then I realize I'm not alone in thinking those thoughts. . .

And I'm at peace with myself again. . ."

Jon Jon smiles and winks. "Sister," he says.

"This life ain't nothin' but a crapshoot,"

and he boards the number 27 bus.

When he arrives at his destination, he's fast asleep.