Neon Crossroads

They shut down the feed store last September. Short line. Now it's a

payday lender with a neon open sign that hums all night.

Long line. There's a for sale sign in the window of the

Rexall where mama used to work. Long line. And a stray dog sleeps in

the drive through lane of the First State Bank. Long line. Like he's guarding

all the ghosts that forgot to turn out the lights. Short line.

My brother took the coal mine buyout in a Greyhound headed west. Long line.

Left his Sunday boots in the closet and a note on the