gabriel
isn't really his name
but we humor him
because he's vicious with his pouts
and knows how to turn them loose

it's enough to shiver your spine

he's got a sweetheart of a face
and undeniably soft hands--
the sort you can't imagine doing
half the things he talks about

i think he's the prettiest of the regulars
because his hair's never quite brushed
and his lips come together like a doll's
and his eyes are always half-closed

like he sees the world in a dream



i've fucked him twice, both for free
(he says i'm cute)



we're playing cards on the sidewalk
since it's still daylight out

gabriel's winning, of course
but i'm not complaining--
he passes me his cigarette
every now and then

it tastes like raspberries
(lipgloss of the week, natch)

i don't have any money to bet
and neither does he
so we're playing for cosmetics:
he's desperate for my nail varnish
and deep plum eyeliner

"it'll look better on me anyway, you know."

i sigh and nod
because he's always right about that

some boys just have all the luck


across the street
marianna and joseph
are fighting over whose turn it is
to sleep with the drunk asian cook
who stumbles down here every friday night,
reeking of strange alcohols
and offering to pay in rice or egg rolls


joseph argues that the cook
always asks for marianna,
to which she replies
that it doesn't matter:

"we've both fucked him twice now
and he ain't figured it out yet."


personally, i agree with marianna


gabriel scoffs in his pretty way,
telling me it's a matter of principles--
not that i'd understand anyway,
seeing as i haven't any

i try to shoot him a nasty look,
but i'm no match again those pouts

instead
i grab his hand
and we leave the card game
abandoned on the sidewalk




i've fucked him three times now, all of 'em free
(well, free if you don't count
having to relinquish my nail varnish
and eyeliner--

gabriel says no one's that cute.)