Smile & Dial

Lunch time at the call center
it's a fuckin' madhouse.
They let all sixty employees go at once
I don't know why
but they do.
Dozens stand in line
at the three microwaves
waiting their turn to zap their shitty frozen foods
Salisbury steaks
mac'n'cheese
hot pockets
they laugh.
"Goddamn son, it's like I'm waitin' in line at the DMV or some shit."
Then they race
to wolf down their food
so they can fit in a cigarette
before their thirty minutes are up.
A table of lonely fat girls
share a large pizza
and eyeball every man that walks by.
The Blacks eat leftover Church's chicken
and tuna with crackers.
The Mexicans have their leftover carne asada
from the cook out of last weekend.
You can hear about their lives
in between each bite
they talk.
About the public health insurance
they no longer qualify for
and the food stamps
that are about to be cut off.
Every man there has his story.
"My baby's mama don't even let me see my kids."
They talk about how she hates them
for ruining her life, her tits, and her body altogether.
The hate runs deep on both sides.
Outside the break room is where they all smoke.
It's patio area
of caged in fences
and metal bars run along the ceiling.
One of the girls reaches up
grabs one of the bars
and does some fancy shit.
Stripper acrobatics
I'd seen the move before
and it made me happy
to know that the lady got out
and found a new line of work.
But you know she took a pay cut.
Selling your body pays a lot better
than selling your voice.
Then
a black & white squad car pulls up out front.
It's mere presence
stirs everyone up
on the smoker's patio.
They all think it's for them
cause they all have their reasons.
"Shit, I got overdue fines!"
"Fuck, I knew that bitch was gonna turn my ass in for that child support."
"I got warrants. I'll be in the bathroom Elvis."
The two officers stepped out
and went inside.
I'd never seen two female cops
that were as butch as they were.
Spiky hair
gel melting and running down
like dripping liquid sideburns.
"Oh damn! Them butch cops are da worst, my nigga. Yeah, they don't fuck around.
Slam you ass to the pavement in a heartbeat, you better believe that shit!"
Three of my buddies emerged from a smoke-filled car.
Eyes redder than the Devil's dick
stinking of malt liquor and Mexican brick-weed.
"What's going down, Elvis?"
They asked paranoid
not taking their eyes off
the black & white parked out front.
"Don't know. Two of em' just went inside. They're looking for somebody..."
"Goddamn."
My mind drifted to my own
overdue traffic fines
back pay child support.
The Black Cloud.
The officers walked back out
and drove away.
Empty handed.
Then there was
laughter
smiles
sighs of relief.
Everyone has been given a reprieve.
One more day
on the phones and under the radar.
For now.
Tomorrow could be different.
Then everyone puts their cigarettes out
and heads back in.
They smile & dial.
Just like the sign above their desk
tells them to.