beef chow mein

there was the time
I left
the left over Chinese
food
in those small white
boxes
in the back seat
of the car
for several days.
the windows rolled
tight.
the temperature
hitting the nineties.
every cat
and dog in the neighbor
hood wanted
in.
hovering over the car.
scratching at the doors
and windows.
how quickly
that new car smell
goes.