Jerry Waiting

jerry teaches checkers

to the delinquents where i work

we ride the same bus home

sometimes

only we never talk

one time he asked out

my co-worker

wanted to take her for coffee

which

for some reason

offended her delicate sensibilities

so much so

that she threatened

to go to the administration about it

that she flashed her ring

in my face

like a diamond mace

and said

don’t he know

i’m married?

as if that mattered to a man

so clearly desperate for love

and companionship

that he was willing to risk his job

for black bodega sludge

cream and sugar

and a pretty face.

--John Grochalski