at the Burger King parking lot

he likes to take me places. he’s discovered that when he gets me out of the city, i become a kid on vacation. not always giggling and silly like when we’re at the ocean and he lets me out of the car and off my leash, running until i am out of breath. but still, even when it’s not obvious, i get a chance to relax; a chance to be silly, or stare through the camera, framing and scoping and clicking. driving down the garden state parkway, he pulls over. i stay in the car while he mumbles something about getting a shake. i sit, looking at the indecisive grey blue sky, and the leafless tree a few feet away. a few moving black spots catch my eye and I pull out the toy, the new camera. playing with the dials and focusing and zooming, the birds decide to fly off. soon i spot them gathering on another nearby tree, hopping around various branches. i focus on one, preening and occasionally calling out to no one in particular, his yellow beak the only bit of contrast to his black feathers.

returning from the bathroom he asks “did you get any pictures, honey?” I smile to myself, feeling taken care of by my man. he likes to take me places