I pulled up to static salvation at the McDonald’s drive-thru

it spat out of the faltering speaker
at night, beneath a half lit
menu, this certain voice made for 6pm
news broadcasts decades ago,
asking “can I help you” sans
vowels and all I needed
to do was say yes
but speakers
work both
ways
and mine
was too broken
so I drove off
wallet squeezed
between my thighs









Jennifer Vaknine is a writer from Austin living in the Northeast. Her work is forthcoming in Riggwelter and Gone Lawn.

See more of her work in 7.2