...two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, pickles, onions on a ...

bernie and dina
gave him a nickname-
fast eddie
said, he reminded them of a used car salesman...
he could charm slang off a southerner.
but what did the 'rents know 'bout love?

i was 18 'n ripe
he was 29 years of fine.
smoothest talkin',
best-lookin' guy i'd ever met.

'rents wanted college
i wanted eddie.
they threatened, i cried, he hid.
i broke their hearts
then handed him mine.

that first year
we collected all the trappings-
furniture, dishes, goldfish
our apartment every inch
plastered with us.
rapped, rapt, wrapped
in every kama sutra position
on-
under-
over-
every surface-
that could carry the weight
without bursting into flames
of smoking hot fire-engine-red lust.

ah. first love.
everything it shoulda been
with no heartbreak in sight
until our lease was up.

but what did i know
about unpaid overtime?
sudden dedication
new found work ethic, long hours
less sex,
less everything.
the casual let's-go-grab-a-burger
at 10:00pm on a tuesday...
across a grimy table
fluorescent lights stinging
bluer than blue eyes
that wouldn't meet my gaze.
i met someone- he began,
his smile notching corners...

before the bastard could utter
another word
no time to duck
mc-mother-fucker!
!splat!
smiling face replaced
burger shrapnel everywhere
guess in the end
eddie wasn't so fast.


© Copyright claimed 2007, Debra Marlar