gaslighting

do you hear

that? i ask

my new friend Midge, as she

lies beside me

on the couch.

we're watching a movie

on Turner Classics.

Gaslight.

do i hear what? she says.

that clicking noise.

a drip, or something.

she shrugs her shoulder

and says, nope.

well it's something,

click click click.

it's driving me crazy.

beats me, she says.

i get up and look around

the house,

i check the bathroom.

turning the knobs on the

sink and shower.

the kitchen sink is tight too.

i go down into the basement

and check the water

heater.

i look out the window.

it's not raining out.

exhausted i go back to lie

on the couch.

then i see in her hand a tiny

metal frog

that she keeps pressing on.

click click click.

this is not a good start,

seeing that we just met yesterday.

how about some popcorn,

she says,

as she casually slides the frog

beneath a pillow.