it's a yearly thing i tell her

the woman,

frantic

in the parking lot, 

asks me,

what's going on, why

are all the stores closed,

Trader Joe's, Whole Foods,

even the bank

is closed.

i can tell she's not from

around here,

that maybe she

recently arrived

from a different continent.

i tell her,

7-11 is open.

make a left at the light,

and turn into

the lot next to the drycleaners.

she's exasperated.

frantically

looking around.

what's going on here?

why is this?

it's Monday, right?

yeah, it's Monday,

i tell her, but it happens

to be Jesus's

birthday.

you know, savior of the world.

son of God.

Bethlehem, that whole

deal.

virgin birth, three wise men.

the manger.

every year on the 25th,

almost

everything closes

in celebration

for the arrival of the baby

Jesus.

she looks at me, stunned.

really? she says.

what about tomorrow,

will it be over then?