18 scenes of face once.  twice.
		-----------------------------------------------------------

		18.

		eighteen?
		dark hair dark woolen sleeve -- light formica counter
		head on side -- a moment -- nods slowly nods once.  twice.

		17.

		five seconds elapse beaming face lights up delayed
		gratification smile smiles now
		igniting -- a moment -- to talk before and after
		a cavalcade of custom
		ers: fill-up soda jerky virginia slims marlboro box

		16.

		thank you!!  that's really cool!!
		where did you get it??
		my parents found it on the beach -- atlantic
		i used to live on the gulf side!!

		15.

		so -- like -- you had it knockin around
		in the car and decided to give it to me??
		no.  i asked mom what to give you
		and this is that -- untouched by money -- family-found.

		14.

		wow.  you care that much about me?
		_speechless_

		13.

		so what am i to do with it??
		you can crush it.  _smile_
		no!!
		...play with it...
		i will!! _is playing -- has been all this time playing --
		more than likely will continue to -- play -- with it_

		12.

		so a police officer gave me this _reads: junior police_
		and someone gave me a tip!!  three dollars and thirty one
		cents!!  _smile_  not that i expect that from you!!  no!!
		_loooong smile_

		11.

		i will treasure it forever!!  i will!!
		_shouted bowled around the newly queued up customer
		across the yards of yellow floor -- a strike --
		poet in the door_

		10.

		there is this girl one of countless many in the county of
		
		9.

		well it is the prettiest shell in the house...
		and if it'll help you win her heart... _subtle -- vintage_
		mom!  not so much heart...  _our cabaret under the sign_
		...*but* a birthday is a birthday

		8.

		_unsaid:  no the shell in the car
		is a shel/shelli/michelle/michele/shelly shell
		it's a permanent installation.  funny you should guess so.
		what do you *really* know -- and do you even know it._

		7.

		and this girl has the radiance -- has the eyes the mouth
		of a very young nanci griffith
		she could be nanci
		changing buses in austin from north austin to south austin

		6.

		no ponytail not blonde not a sylph not a waif no musician
		not a porn model not a volleyball star not an australian
		no outside hitter power forward a.c.c. big10 soccer player
		not even an english major.

		5.

		before: the tape clicks stops clicks reverses starts again
		what are you listening to?
		smashing pumpkins
		they are... from chicago
		they are??  oh.  i am not.

		3.

		do you know who liz phair is?
		no.
		she too is from chicago.  if you like smashing pumpkins

		2.

		...then again, she is a girl so you might not.
		_beaming a nanci griffith smile_:  i *like* chyx!  chyx
		are good...

		1.

		_unsaid:  a conch is a conch is a conch.  not.
		once.  twice.  poet in my window.  whipsmart._


			Marek Lugowski
			3 November 1997
			Chicago, Illinois

		[revised]