A Horse Named Jenny

Oh wow
Look at that
you said

and I turned around
and there was an old lady
counting her change at
the counter
basset puppies
and paw prints
stitched all over
the back of her jacket

Birthday present idea
I said

you laughed

I’m not kidding
I said

I’ll wear the fuck out of that

we sat
for a couple minutes
eating our sugar cookie
covered in confetti sprinkles
and a graphic amount of frosting

28 cents, 29 cents, 30…
the old lady went

I don’t ever want you to die
you said

Sweetie, you’re stuck with me

you stuck your finger
into the cookie crumbs
and held it

Good you said

The old lady walked
out the door

bread in hand
her daughter waiting
in a station wagon

their front plate
was a personalized portrait
of a horse named Jenny

you told me you didn’t wanna end up
like that lady

memories of me
and a basset hound jacket

the car started

she took a Viking pull
off her fresh loaf
and left a giant piece of bread
hanging out of her mouth

she held it there
and looked straight at us

we laughed

the car drove off

Okay
maybe I wanna be a little like her
you said

I thought as much
I said

I finished my weak coffee

You bused your clean plate

and we left the bakery

and walked to the lake

as if the whole thing
had never happened

© 2016 Lee Kitzis