hot

she was hot, she was so hot

I didn't want anybody else to have her,

and if I didn't get home on time

she'd be gone, and I couldn't bear that-

I'd go mad. . .

it was foolish I know, childish,

but I was caught in it, I was caught.

I delivered all the mail

and then Henderson put me on the night pickup run

in an old army truck,

the damn thing began to heat halfway through the run

and the night went on

me thinking about my hot Miriam

and jumping in and out of the truck

filling mailsacks

the engine continuing to heat up

the temperature needle was at the top

HOT HOT

like Miriam.

leaped in and out

3 more pickups and into the station

I'd be, my car

waiting to get me to Miriam who sat on my blue couch

with scotch on the rocks

crossing her legs and swinging her ankles

like she did,

2 more stops. . .

the truck stalled at a traffic light, it was hell

kicking it over

again. . .

I had to be home by 8,8 was the deadline for Miriam.

I made the last pickup and the truck stalled at a signal

1/2 block from the station. . .

it wouldn't start, it couldn't start. . .

I locked the doors, pulled the key and ran down to the

station. . .

I threw the keys down. . .signed out. . .

your goddamned truck is stalled at the signal,

I shouted,

Pico and Western. . .

. . .I ran down the hall,put the key into the door,

opened it. . .her drinking glass was there, and a note:

      sun of a bitch:

      I waited until 5 after ate

      you don't love me

      you sun of a bitch

      somebody will love me

      I been wateing all day

      Miriam

I poured a drink and let the water run into the tub

there were 5,000 bars in town

and I'd make 25 of them

looking for Miriam

her purple teddy bear held the note

as he leaned against a pillow

I gave the bear a drink, myself a drink

and got into the hot

water.