an honest mistake

an honest mistake
by larry jones

talking to the check-out clerk
at the hardware store.
telling her how a McDonald’s worker
tried to cheat me out of 10 dollars.
how it seems to happen
more and more
the older I get.

that’s terrible, she says,
taking advantage of old people—

as a woman
about my age
comes running back into the store
waving her receipt
says to the clerk,
you overcharged me one dollar.

sorry dear, says the clerk
it was an honest mistake.

lying
cheating
cunt

in my humble opinion.