there's no such thing
as a baker's dozen.
I got close to a free one
one time.
Dove came over on my birthday
when I turned
thirty eight.
She was a call girl from the paper
who I'd known before.
When we were through
she got up and I pushed
the money towards her.
"I thought this was a free one
for your birthday?" she said.
"I don't remember you
saying anything like that," I said,
withdrawing
the bills slightly.
"I didn't?" she said.
"I don't think so," I said, "but that's real nice of..."
"Oh, well," she said.
Then she took the bills
put them in her purse
and walked out the door.