not my size

you search the stack
of clothes
looking for your size.
but your size is the only
size
they don't have.
you could quickly
gain weight, lose weight.
but that never
works.
you ask the clerk,
a child who wanders out
from the back
after smoking a cigarette
and ask him
if he has your size
in the stock room.
no, he says.
adjusting his store
badge, and zipper.
can you look? no. I was
just back there, and
everything you see on the floor
is all we have.
if I give you twenty
dollars cash, will you
go look for me?
he scratches his head,
looks around and says,
if you give me the money first,
i'll go look.
you hand him the money.
he comes back a minute
later
and says, sorry, nope.