Real Shit Show, Episode 14

This stupid dream where I am in Virginia's
house, a place never left behind. Fingers
hook in the divots of rotary dial models
pulling back 456-5860 my childhood
phone number.

Even the phone book is no help in this
existential night terror. Names unfamiliar
jumbled, who are these people? The only
stranger here is me. A bedroom quicksand,
pale blue shag carpet that swallows you to
the ankles.

The area codes all changed decades ago 904
to 850. Every number I know is disconnected
reduced to a three note tune. We're sorry, the
number you have dialed is no longer in service.