bullied into nine boxes of thin mints

a girl scout appears at the door

with a brochure

of cookies.

she's about three feet tall

dressed in green

and wearing a red sash

and a red beret

like she just joined

the communist party.

her mother is standing behind

her with a loaded

gun for protection.

i wave to her,

she waves the gun 

over her head

and smiles.

okay, okay. i pull

some cash out of the safe

and order nine boxes of

thin mints and one box of

the pecan sandies.

the birds seem to like those.

three weeks, the kid says.

i nod, receipt?

we don't do receipts,

she says,

don't you trust me?

i'm a freaking girl scout

for God's sake.

my bad, i say. my bad.

then i go back inside.