But Not a Drop to Drink
An Hour North of Houston
at the grocery store
patience is a virtue
15 items or less
I just needed water
One family
Three baskets full
refugees or volunteers?
let them go ahead
register Six opens
jump to a new line
One person ahead of me
I just need water
there is a stall ahead
One person
Three items
One new employee
a flash of red
just needed water
ankle throbbing
have to pay rent
patience is a virtue
family of Three
baskets full
probably from Houston
don't want them to see
my abandonment
of their line
as a silent protest
the manager arrives
ankle still throbbing
played with cat
rescued from flood waters
my turn
new guy scans my One water
Six times
30 dollars for Six waters
I watch the family of baskets
walk out the door
the manager returns
If I had stayed in their line-
Patience is a virtue
parents from Corpus
stuck in hotel room
for Six days
Patience is a virtue
paycheck didn't arrive
the sweet woman with a kind hug
was making sure her grandchildren were safe
I take my water
Ankle throbbing
dodge cars on the way to mine
parking lot overpacked
families everywhere
patience is a virtue
I'm almost hit as I leave
I just needed wat-
funny...there's so much everywhere...
About the Creator
L. E. King
I am a writer, actress and artist. I am the exhausted and overused kettle that is screeching on a stove top because I've hit boiling. I am almost 30 and living out my 10th existential crisis. I think I'm funny, and that's all that matters.
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