There’s a heaviness driving there

An aura of something’s off in the air

Bright daylight, noon time

When I walk inside, the glasses shine

A bland storefront

Organized shelves and aisles

It’s a place where people come to get solace from their trials

Me walking in is a stunt

Will I be seen

I dash to the door

Ah! There goes my neighbor out of the adjoining store, holding groceries

I bow my head

Enter the store with dread

The sales lady gives a friendly hello

Oddly enough the lights give off a pleasant glow

I have a vague idea of where I’m going

Past names of famous people – pirates and showmen

The colors and shapes are pretty

I feel like I’m either in a kaleidoscope or an omen

There it is on the bottom

Square and tall, with a thin handle

Auburn liquor

Nearly matches my sandal

I squat to grab it – there’s dust on the bottle

It made me think of that old country song

I blow it off and move along

Surely now I fit the description

There’s police officers at the register

I’ve always told my patients that alcohol’s no prescription

I feel my inner shame grow

Please don’t bump into anyone I know

I wait to check out

To my left there’s a lady in a gown

?During the day?

Inside the store she wears shades

I finally leave with a navy blue plastic bag

I look across the lot – there’s that lady – her gown has started to sag

She stands under a tree and peels it off

It was a disguise

I couldn’t believe my eyes

It was my boss

“Dr. Parker!” I heard from behind

I could have died

My boss was watching

There were two of my patients – stopping in the parking lot – to talk to me

My hands were so sweaty

I dropped what I was holding

The police approached

My boss was arrested

My two patients said, “We never would have guessed it!”

Me neither

Embezzlement led her to drink

More than she could ever think

What was stealing alcohol

I felt myself start to fall

My patients grabbed me

Over the whole thing I was appalled

We walked across the street to their yard

They gave me some water

We’d tried to pick up the cracked bottle but didn’t bother

I was ashamed

They told me, “Drink this too, it’ll wash everything away”

I let it touch my tongue

It was like dung

What have I become

The very thing I used to despise

Then it hit me

If this wasn’t my act of selfless love I don’t know what is

I’d gone to that store to get my husband some whiskey

Everyone at the ABC store has a secret

It’s undeniable

Acrimony, Bereavement, Conceit

We’re all in the same store and story, really

And fully, ultimately recognizable