He tells himself,and her,

That this is what he has to do,

Go schmooze with the boys

While she runs the busy barbecue joint.

He flashes cash at the country club

And flirts

And makes his jokes

And tells himself, and her,

It's all just part of the 'great promote.'

He hands out cigars and smokes them

And brings home the few paltry

Business cards he collects,

And puts 'em in a mason jar

On his nightstand that was his daddy's.

His wife pretends to be asleep,

But she is keeping half of the register

In a separate bank account

For when she catches him

Doing no good.

And she wonders if her man will find out then

If any of those good old boys have time for him?

Will any of them turn out good, or just old,

On that day the scoundrel

Needs a hand out?

And what will he tell himself then,

And what will he try to tell her?

-jenn