her part time job

a hundred years ago,

i like to say that now

because it does feel that long ago,

but it might have

been ten years

for all i know,

anyway i digress.

i met a woman who was quite

bossy.

quite strange in

an interesting sort of way.

at the end of our

first meeting, i reached

around her waist

to kiss her goodbye

and she slapped me hard

across the face, saying,

did i say you could do that.

do not kiss me until i say

it's okay. she suddenly sounded

very German.

okay, i said. okay. feeling my

hurt cheek.

then she opened the trunk

of her car, saying she

had something to show me.

she waited for my reaction

as i stared at the whips

and chains, the leather boots,

the mask and other assorted

mechanical devices

that i'd never seen before.

interested, she asked.

do you like to play?

are you into the game of pain?

it's my part time job.

ummmm, you know

what, i got to get going.

i may have left the stove on.

then slowly backed away,

before running down the street.

she yelled at me, Achtung!

come back here you coward.

i demand you come back

here.