the better part of an hour

i spend the better

part

of an hour trying to open up

my Samsung

tv remote

to replace the batteries.

i've used every

tool in the junk kitchen

drawer.

my hands are bloody,

my knuckles gnarled.

i've mumble every curse

word in the book

and still the slippery black panel

won't slide.

i go on YouTube for 

a video tutorial,

i dial the hot line,

then finally i see a kid

rolling by

on his skateboard

and beg him to open it

for me.

i wave a twenty dollar

bill at him,

so he stops and opens

it up in five seconds.

thanks, i tell him, handing

him the cash.

no problem grandpa,

he says, and smiles.