He wanted there to always be
six cigarettes in his pack, he
wanted there to always be a
half-bottle of bourbon in the
cupboard by the sink, he wanted
it to always be Friday, he wanted
all the women to be lovely and all
the men funny, all the politicians
dull and honest, all the clergy
optimistic and trustworthy, he wanted
all food to be good for you, he wanted it
to rain at night, he wanted everyone to
get along, he wanted young people to
have good taste in music, he wanted
crooks to steal from each other, he
wanted everyone to die quickly, he wanted
long summers and short winters, he
wanted to be well-liked and left alone,
he wanted a cheeseburger medium rare
with cheddar, onion, lettuce and curly
fries, he wanted a better view than the
ambulance bays and dumpster, he wanted
to get on with it.