driving to the thrift store
to drop off a
bag of old clothes
I stopped for gas.
stepped out of the car.
filled.
walked in to pay.
the guy behind the counter
was talking with an accent
at some blonde
with an uncomfortable face, he was
holding her pack of cigarettes
hostage, just
out of reach.
It took longer than it should have.
I paid and sat back in the car
watched the blonde light her cigarette.
lipstick pink on the filter.
when she drove away
I started the car
and realized
the bag of pants
was gone