I dreamed of you last night.

I can’t remember much, but I have vague memories of taxi rides, city lights, elephants, and fireworks.

I woke up with a smile on my face and the beautiful realization that I’m so happy I want to live even as I sleep.

I’m out of place here.

The mouse-faced man knows. Forever hunched and wringing his hands, he peers over his computer monitor with beady eyes, always watching, watching, watching. I feel him looking through me, asking me why I’m in his line of sight. Even just sitting here, I’m a bother to him. Every sneaked glance is an affirmation - “You don’t belong here.” He doesn’t think I see him staring, but I know. I know that he knows, and that he’s watching.

I wonder if he’s like that at home too – if he peeks at his mousey wife and mousey kids over the edge of his tilted bowl as he sips the last drops of soup. I’m not sure what type of soup (whatever kind that mice like to drink). I wonder if, after meals, he has crumbs he doesn’t know about stuck to his face (I can’t imagine him not).

Crumbs or not, I know one thing for sure. He is always watching, sneaking, affirming. “You don’t belong here.”

At first glance, the soil streaked man was a bundle of newspaper scraps and fabrics, a blurred collage of dirt and weathered shades. As I pressed change into his gloved palm, the mismatched man smiled and nodded, then asked me what my greatest weakness was. Patience was the first thing that came to mind.

He let out a hearty laugh. “That was my problem too. Be patient,” he said, “Someday you will have it.”

YEAH MAVS COMPLETE THE SWEEP
TIME FOR LAKERS FANS TO WEEP
JJ BAREA CANNOT BE STOPPED
EVEN BY BYNUM'S CHEAP SHOT
PEJA STOJAKOVIC AND JASON JET TERRY
SLICK ALL DAY DROPPING THREES
IT'S OKAY KOBE DON'T LOOK GLUM
PAU GASOL WILL BUY YOU LUNCH
BYE BYE LAKERS AND PJ
HAVE AN AWESOME MOTHER'S DAY!

Tossing and turning during a rainy night

She always picks the worst days -

the days I would have stayed in anyways -

to come and sing sad, slow songs

that remind me of the man I want to be.

As she hums,

I am weak.

I cry about things I cannot change

and that I cannot change them.

Good things come in threes,

Especially steak tacos.

Chef, my compliments.

I forget your name,

But your hair looks nice today -

Just thought you should know.