It’s up to you

(After Portia Nelson)

1.
I walk into the local store,
The only one that sells my stuff.
I pick my stuff and say my Hi,
He smiles and prints me out a bill.
The price has gone up yet again.
I show the price on packaging.
He shrugs and says, “It’s up to you.”
I stuff the stuff into my bag.
Then pull it out and shelf it back.
Then push it back into the bag.
Then push the bag on to the shelf.
I walk out empty-handed. Fast.

2.
I walk into the local store,
The only one that sells my stuff.
I pick my stuff and say my Hi,
He smiles and prints me out a bill.
The price has gone up yet again.
I pay it, walk out with my bag.

3.
I walk into the local store,
The only one that sells my stuff.
I pick my stuff and say my Hi,
He smiles and prints me out a bill.
The price has gone up yet again.
I quote the price from yesterday.
He shrugs and says, “It’s up to you.”
I walk out empty-handed. Slow.

4.
I walk into the local store,
The only one that sells my stuff.
I pick my stuff and say my Hi,
He smiles and prints me out a bill.
The price has gone up yet again.
I walk out, hear, “It’s up to you.”

5.
I walk into the local store,
The only one that sells my stuff.
I pick my stuff and say my Hi,
He smiles and prints me out a bill.
The price has gone up yet again.
I empty out my stolen gun,
Erase the CCTV files,
And wake up from my fantasy.

6.
I walk into another store.