a drive in the country

as i drive out west

towards winchester, 

i squirm in my seat and wince.

i really need to pee

before going any further.

sixteen ounces of coffee

is ready to leave the building.

so i stop at a gas station

selling fresh fruits and vegetables,

and venison, assorted

road kill on ice.

an old woman hands me

a key to the bathroom

that's attached

to a two by four.

she looks at me suspiciously,

giving me what i call

the evil eye.

i hardly want to touch it,

but i have to go badly.

it's a horror movie in there.

grey tile.

a checkered floor, with a pool

of what looks like

blood and vinegar puddled

about.

my eyes water,

the urinal is half off the wall.

a seatless toilet

in a beat up stall.

with names and phone numbers

etched in ink,

with crude art work of

oversized anatomy parts.

there is a description

of what they'll

do for you when you call.

i recognize one of the numbers.

an old girlfriend,

a cheerleader in high school.

captain, in fact.

Lullabelle.

i guess she finally graduated

and left her job selling pretzels

at the mall.