the parking meter knows

i fed it three quarters and an apology.

it took the quarters.

the apology is still pending review by a committee that has not yet been formed.

downtown smells like sunscreen and grievance.

a man in a polo shirt is yelling at a kiosk in a language the kiosk does not speak.

the kiosk is winning. the kiosk is always winning.

somewhere a budget line item is being moved from one column to another and a field is being measured for what comes next.

i am out of quarters.

i love it here. i don't know why.