Photo by Christopher Raley

Closing Day

Straight-hemmed shirt hangs a circle around
the last known outward trajectory
of his belly. Steel grey mustache
trims his upper lip to a frown.

Sales lady slides shoe boxes into
a plastic bag, its clatter a menace
to the mostly empty shelves
in the mostly empty store.

He is both grand and forthright as he
passes cards to each of the girls, who
are working the store to closing day,
and says, “Only if you’re interested.”

It plays out like background dialogue
in an American plot. Center front,
my wife tells me in a stage whisper
that size seven is gone, and we missed

sixty percent off red tag.