Sister's Pickle

I could stay right here
And give back the boy his book
But if I stay right here
He'll think that I'm a nun
And I am not a nun
He'll think that I am chaste
And I am not that chaste.

Or I could run away
Leave his book on the shelf by the lube and the lingerie
But that means it's over
Whatever this is, and I
Really think I should wait
Though it's hard to articulate why.

Or I
Could stay right here
And shake this habit off
Just stay right here and say, "Hello"
And say my name
Say, "Here's your book"
And, "What a place"
And, "Hey, let's keep in touch"
But that's way too much.

It's hard to go unseen
At least in this instance with so little distance between
Me and the boy and his book and the shop and the– Wow!
I take a step to get out but my feet forget how.

Now it's me
Just me against the door
This isn't what I thought
Although I think I want some more.

But not right now
Now I need to go
I'm not finished with the boy– I mean the book!
So I will hold him– hold it 'til tomorrow.