the car wash

the boy scouts
in their uniforms
covered in merit
badges
would wash cars at the church.
there would be
twenty of them,
all ages and sizes.
except for the old guy
in the same outfit,
who must have been the pack
leader. he stood back
and waved you forward in the line.
they were like bugs on
your car
spraying, washing, hosing
it down
as you sat inside
listening to the radio
and eating potato chips.
they did a great job,
but there was always
one side
missed, somehow,
a five foot stretch
of untouched dirt, which
was okay.
what did they know about
washing cars.
building a fire, yes.
catching fish, or tying knots.
yes.
car washing, well.