LOOKING BACK

“I need to see a photo I.D.”
she demanded.
So, I handed my driver’s
license to the clerk,
a large woman in her late
forties with graying hair
pulled back tight into
a long ponytail.
She studied the photo,
glanced up at me, checked
the photo again and
finally concluded, “Yelp,
that’s you alright.”
“Unfortunately.” I joked.
“Oh. you’re a good looking
man,” she lied.
“I used to be,” I replied. Then
as I turned to go she whispered,
“I used to be skinny,”
a far away look in her eyes…