brushing back her green hair

she tells me to come over

after breaking up

with her latest boyfriend

who was constructing the Scrambler

and other

rides at the mall

parking lot.

i find her, 

on her front porch,

head buried in her hands,

a ring on every finger.

i sit down beside her.

there's a half-eaten

ham sandwich

on the stoop

and a jug of mountain dew.

a package of

Debbie cakes beside it.

what's wrong?

i ask,

putting my arm around

her shoulder,

and brushing back her green

dyed hair,

what's the matter,

why are you crying?

i can't, she mumbles between

sobs, with tears

dripping off the ring in her nose.

i can't.

you can't what, i ask again.

what?

i can't find my soul mate,

my one and only

man.

i've been searching my whole life,

ever since i watched

Cinderella

on television

at the age of seven.

why do i end up with losers?

God has let me down again.