ACROSS FROM THE LAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING IN MY PET STORE: After Elizabeth Rees

Setting her bag full
of random items behind
our counter,
her breath smells of alcohol.

She cackles and walks away.
Another woman in a cheetah print
cardigan and no bra makes her
way to the register.
The cheetah lady lets me know
it’s not her that smells.

The this is how lazy
we have become.
My coworker is trying to order
more bags of dog treats.
She grips the clipboard
and scribbles on the yellow pad.

Finally, people leave,
making their way to my register.
The receipt prints and I
wish them a good day,

no matter their reason
to be lazy
while they were in my store.
I am the cashier.
They are the customer.