Six-Fifty

as soon as i walked in she smiled like she knew what i was doing there, like everything else that would make her smile i ignore it. i always come here, always right around this time. she must think i know her schedule. if i did i would always come at another time. she kept smiling after i’d ordered. “you always get the same thing,” she said, with the same stupid smile, her smile thinking my smile is the reason i’m there. my smile was planning on eating something else somewhere else next time. my smile was reminded of a night a few weeks before, she was drunk. “i hate books,” she said. “i’m totally stupid when it comes to that stuff.” her stupid smile. i had to take another drink to keep from doing anything, it would have been ugly. the whiskey, pot & few lingering thoughts would have had me smiling if she weren’t smiling her stupid smile that’s now making roast beef with cheddar on a french roll. all i wanted was a sandwich, she’s not getting anything more than my $6.50.