Fair

Fair

I visit the L.A. County

Fair with my family.

I get a dollar

for how old I am. "No, Dad,

I can't have fun

with only fifteen dollars." I leave

to go to the bathroom. I close up

the porta potty, notice myself

in a mirror; scratched, vandalized.

I look damn good. I piss

and leave. A lowly game barker

catches my attention. He wants me

to throw some balls

and spill him into water. I

pay the man fifteen

and chuck. The balls

miss. My family laughs

behind me. My father puts

a knife he bought in his back

pocket. He says he got it for my brother,

but I know he wants to give it to me.

He pulls it out, smiles and shows

me. "A piece of shit."