What Happened

Guy

In a supermarket

He’s showing off

For his girl

Saying

Fuck

And

Shit

And

Assholes

Really loud

As he walks down the aisles.

He looks like one of those guys

Who’d beat you up

If you disagreed with him.

I walk past him

And I’m pretty beat up

Piece of tired, me.

I have some green hair

A box of hamburgers

And a few slices of cheese.

My posture says

Just leave me the fuck alone

So of course, he doesn’t.

He turns to me and he says to his girl

“Jesus, what happened to this guy?”

I have my keys in my hands

So I ball my fist up

And prepare to tear his face to shreds

It’s been that bad a week

And I want it

I really, really want it.

Instead, without a beat,

I drop my shoulders a little bit,

Keep walking,

And say quietly, but just audible:

“People like you.”