The service manager from Sam’s Auto Care
picks me up in his wide Ram truck.
Once a week he hand-polishes the chassis,
and it glows new and shiny red.

He tells me his kids visit on the weekend
and his 17-year- old now lives with him.
That’s the way of the world I say.
Lines crinkle around his eyes, he nods,
acknowledges our hard-earned
expertise on kids.

I tell him even though it cost too much
I ordered a new service manual
for my car since the old one was falling
apart.  He says it’s important to preserve
what we have.  We ride in silence,
in our common understanding.