1bigblackblog

DOLLAR BILL BLUES


the ceiling fan rhythmically squeaked. four large insects
flew around the room. a uniformed man raised his
right arm andsignaled me to come forward. a bamboo
stool was in frontof his deck. " sit " he said. i did and
handed him my documents.he looked at the pages
" you pay one dollar. special fee "

i pulled a bill from my shirt pocket and placed it
on his desk.he opened a drawer, put it inside and returned
the documents to me,then pointed to a woman seated
beneath an open window opposite us " go there. "
a chair was besides her desk. " sit " she said. i did and
gave my papers which she glanced at briefly
" you pay special fee. one dollar "

after i paid she smiled and extended her arm towards a door
" exit there "

the air was humid and the sky partly overcast.
a man sat on a motorcycle " transport ? " he said.
i walked over and sat behind him " how much to town ? "
he turned around " you pay how much ? " from my
shirt pocket i pulled a dollar bill " lets go ". he looked
at the bill then at me "one dollar !? what one dollar pay !!? "

he put his hand on the fuel tank " get petrol ? up !
eat rice ? up !! drink beer ? up !!! " he took the bill,
folded it in half and placed it in his jean jacket left pocket.
" one dollar !? what one dollar make !!? want girl ? up !
before condom free ! now no free !! must pay !!!
everything up ! up !! up !!! "