Bon's Off Broadway

Movie posters covered in sharpie 

on cluttered walls muffle mediocre

juke box—greatest hits albums & Creed;

an all-night diner that closes at 10;

the scent still grieving smoking laws.

Teenager sits opposite me with milkshake.

I nod, study walls, sip bad coffee,

search for late-afternoon conversation.

Questions: how’s school? Home?

Want anything else? How’s your sleep?

Things are fine. Sleep’s not a problem.

Good. It’s important for mental health.

Clean rooms. No screen time. He nods.

I finish my 3^rd cup, pay and leave.

At home, I shove clutter off my bed,

binge on Netflix, wait for anxious dreams.