dazed and confused at the Mall

i haven't been

in a mall for years.

but

for an adventure i drive

over to

Springfield Mall,

famous

for car jackings,

assaults

and murders.

cameras are everywhere.

signs, saying

don't leave

valuables in your car.

break ins are frequent

and the barbed

wire

is disturbing.

i see a hooded gang

of miscreants

in the garage,

hiding in the shadows

passing around a large

drink

from Orange Julius.

quickly i make a mad dash

towards J.C. Penny's,

but the doors are locked.

the gang

is chasing me.

i follow the smell of 

Cinnabon's around

the corner,

and try that door, but Sears

and Roebucks is

closed too.

i see a security guard riding

by in his smart

car, licking

and ice-cream cone.

i try to wave him down,

but he waves back

and drives on.

i begin to empty my pockets

of cash,

leaving it behind

to try and slow

the gang down.

finally i make it to the main

entrance

and dive through the glass doors,

hitting my head

on a fountain spewing

up colored water.

woozy,

and glassy eyed,

i look around.

there's Spencer's

and Aunties Pretzels,

kiosks to get a battery for

my watch.

Hahn's and Kay Jewelers,

massage chairs

and Victoria Secrets.

i'm dreaming that it's 1980

all over again.

there's Chess King where i bought

my first ill

fitting suit

and Hickory Farms

with stacks

of beef logs.

and over there,

next to Radio Shack,

there's the food court,

where a woman

puts a piece of pork

on a toothpick

near my mouth and says,

want to try?

i say, yes, thank you.

home at last.

a tear falls from my eye.