the new family car

i see my car

parked

in front of the store

where it was stolen

a week ago.

i wait for the new owner

to come

out of the store.

it's an old car.

grey and rusted, dented with

ripped seats.

but it had a great stereo

system.

and held a lot of memories

driving to the eastern shore

with Betty or

was it Lulu?

finally the man

comes out.

he has three kids with

him, all licking ice cream cones.

and his wife.

a rotund woman with a floppy

hat on.

they all seem happy.

he's struggling to carry his bags

of groceries

so i go to help him,

using my key to open

the door.

i pop the trunk and put

the groceries in the back,

moving my basketball out of the way.

i then fasten the seat belts

on the kids in the back.

his wife

gets in, she's smiling.

licking a green scoop of

ice cream on a sugar cone

which i take to be pistachio.

it's a happy family.

the man

gives me a dollar for helping

him.

i tell him thank you.

but no.

i wave as they drive off.

they all wave to me

as i walk home.