Every Tuesday By Susan Isla Tepper

Where I waited 

several hours, at least

in all weather

for the jail bus

 

picking us women up

and a couple of men

for a visit 

with our incarcerated.

A long bumpy ride

on hard seats.

 

Each time upon my return,

exhausted, my mother

nevertheless chided me: 

He is not deservant of you.

 

Deservant, I thought, sounds like

drain cleaner.

 

No foliage back then

snaked the slat wall

where we waited

on the tardy bus

just litter:

lunch bags, soda bottles,

cupcake wrappers, apple cores.

One time a condom.

Who would need a condom

going to that place?

 

Then I got old and he never

finished up his time.

Susan Isla Tepper is a a twenty year writer and author of 13 published books of fiction and poetry. Her latest new release GIRL UPSIDE DOWN is a Novella published by Wilderness House Press. www.susantepper.com