as long as you don't get married again

so where are we now,

i ask

Betty,

my tax consultant

and

life coach,

all around advisor

on things,

large

and small.

do i have enough dough

to finally

quit work

and sleep in late?

she readjusts the wig

on her head,

and wipes

her fogged glasses

on the sleeve

of her

mountain dress.

she flips through my

paper work,

licking her fingers

with each turn

of a page.

well, she says. with what

you have

now, you

should be good for

another thirty years

or so,

as long as you don't get

married again.