On the way to the closed
free clothing store
in an old van strewn with empty ‘sodie’ cans
and diapers
the two sisters spoke of their brother
seeing a woman in another small town
who had argued with her
about her husband being in jail
for abusing animals
Not knowing she was married
he hit the road
to call one sister
to pick him up
at night in winter
on the black-top highway
When she got there
he was back at the woman’s house
and they had settled their differences
As I flicked my cigarette
out of the vehicle’s window
both sisters said simultaneously:
“but we won’t gossip about him.”
