the invisible car

it's only a twenty dollar
bill that you
find on the coffee shop
floor, but still,
someone lost it and left
it lying there.
you pick it up
and tap the man on the stool
beside it
if it's his. no, he says,
checking his wallet.
a woman at a table,
looks at you, so you wave
the bill in her direction,
she checks her purse.
she wants to say yes,
but shakes her head no,
and says, you are so honest.
the place is nearly
empty.
you can't just toss it
back onto the floor
and hope whoever lost it
will come back.
that would be crazy.
so instead you get the most
expensive drink on
the board menu,
and leave a nice holiday
tip. the rest you give
to the woman
who trolls the sidewalk
out front
asking for money to buy
gas for her invisible car.