term life insurance

there's a skinny

white teenager at the door.

knocking

with authority.

it's almost dark out.

i get the baseball bat

out of the closet in case

there's trouble.

i slowly open

the door

and take a look at him.

he's freckled with

red hair

and holding a clipboard.

hello, he says.

i'm selling life insurance

in your neighborhood.

he looks all of fifteen.

what?

i say, still holding the bat.

i'm in my underwear

and the smoke alarm

is going off.

my burger is burning in

the pan.

maybe this isn't a good time,

the kid says.

but here's my card.

he hands me his card

and i close the door.