$740 car

On the warm nights the neighborhood becomes a new place,

like the spirit of a friendly bar’

or a communal gathering space.

I had wandered over to my neighbors side of the street

and spoke the nonsense of acquaintances

bound together by the accident

of residency.

I had left the garden gate open

and I began to worry that the dog

(visible on his back-of-the-couch perch

in the front window)

would soon discover it.

While my beer warmed in my hand

and my neighbor excitedly retold the tale

of his latest automobile acquisition in full color,

I nervously watched the gate, no longer held

in rapt attention

at the story of the car deal…

…etc.

Then my beer ran out

and the dog left the window.

I had to ditch

on the first street-talk session

of the warm season

so my dog wouldn’t wander away

and my warm beer

could be swapped for a cold one.

I don’t think my neighbor

even noticed.