from russia

you get a package
in the mail.
not really a package
but a large
crate,
a box with holes
in the side.
it's from russia.
you can't read
the writing,
but you can see
that it's been
delivered to the wrong
address, it's
for your neighbor
jimmy.
you can hear a woman's
voice inside,
let me out, she
says in broken
english, please. she
bangs on the inside
of the crate.
i am cramped and
hungry. please
let me out, jimmy,
please let me out.
i am not jimmy
you tell her, he
lives next door.
he won't be home
until six.
if i tamper with
the box i'll be breaking
a federal postal
law, i think.
you go get a soft
drink out of the fridge
and a long
straw, which you
slip through
an air hole, she
sucks deeply
from the straw.
then you get her some
blueberries and sunflower
seeds that
you flick through
the openings. who are
you, you ask.
i am jimmy's new wife
he found me online.
we are to be married
this weekend. svetland?
he told me about you.
i saw your picture. that
farm shot in your shorts
and boots,
milking a cow. very hot.
jimmy put up a big
tent in the backyard
yesterday. in fact
he's been slow cooking
a pig out there
for days. i'll be there.
should be fun.
yes. she says. i am
she. svetland. well,
sorry, i can't open you
up here, but i can drag
you over to jimmy's
porch. i'll give him
a call at the office
and let him know you
are here. okay?
thank you, thank you.
she says. by the way
i am registered
at target, if you
haven't bought us a gift
already. will do, you
tell her, okay, here we
go, going to be a
little bumpy going
down the front steps.
hold on.