Meeting

by Andrew Riutta and Michael Dylan Welch

First published in South by Southeast 15:3, Fall 2008, page 14. Written by email in July and August 2008.

AA meeting

spring peepers lengthen

the moment of silence Andrew

the chairman of the board

drops his laser-pointer Michael

February wind

the funeral director reaches

for a breath mint Andrew

pep talk—

the coach bites through

his pencil Michael

on the therapist’s face,

a scar bigger than her smile Andrew

competing with

the minister’s drone . . .

potluck smells Michael