Stories Surrounding 

Do not judge
the five minutes
before click-
closing and goodnight
customer wearing his hoodie
up and bringing his smudgy suitcase in;
this customer, wheeling in 
on the well tumbled cushion 
of whatever good time he’d been having.
Do not judge
this customer who was surprised
and grateful we were still here
because his social worker
brought him here 
when he was eleven
and bought him Coraline
and he’d never forgotten that.
This customer who asked
if we had any Lovecraft,
who bought the hardcover,
(He’s getting paid today)
and who Oh no, thank you, 
didn’t need a bag because
he was going to hold it 
close, in his arms.

And five minutes later,
He left 
with his story
surrounding him.
Click-close-goodnight.
The day was for you,
reader; I’m glad
we were here again.

Kimberly M. King