By Memory Derthick
Art: “Logging What’s Discarded” by Lily Jarell

I tell myself & hit the express lane
where a bird-boned chinless man
with mouse-curls stands at the register,
name tag defaced.
It could say Greg. But anyway.
He checks his phone—
I assume the Pens are playing—

when the woman in front of the line
says We’re going camping!
I think he’s going to propose!

I’m so embarrassed
I have to look past her,
but Greg says In that case
you better bring something sweet

& the woman looks like . . . oh & I can tell
Greg knows from oh
so he says Go on.
These good people will wait . . .

As she runs off to baked goods
static flares from speakers—
I’m pretty sure it’s the game,
Pens against the Leafs—
but Greg gives us his eyes, holds up his phone.
It’s Stanley Tucci in white jeans strolling
with a glass of golden wine
& Greg’s smile shines

like Stanley Tucci’s barware
in the high-key lights
& I want to give Greg
my coconut yogurt
but I can’t
because I haven’t paid for it yet

when camping woman returns
with a clamshell of brownies
& Greg hands them back.
Free gratis, he says,
& that’s a mere misdemeanor
in Pennsylvania
so here you go

& let me tell you.
If Greg said to me Go on,
I’d go right ahead.

That pinging sound.
Finger on the rim
of a fine crystal flute

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Memory Derthick lives in Pittsburgh and is a participant in Carlow University’s Madwomen in the Attic program. Her work has appeared in “Voices from the Attic” (Carlow University), “Once in a Lifetime” anthology (Beyond Words Press), the Broad River Review (Rash Award Finalist,) and Clockhouse.