hope is some man waiting in a line at a gas pump for an hour because the prices are good only to find that the gas he prefers is out of order. his car cuts off because the needle was on e anyway. he stands in another line between two vehicles as he holds a gas container in his hands, nodding at other motorist because “standing” in line for gas is the normal thing to do or because his car is blocking the pump from people who use the gas he doesn’t. once he’s finished filling his plastic gallon container, he jogs in the way that men in business suits jog to places back to his car, not wanting to explain to the man in the pickup with his middle finger pointed at him why he didn’t use the pump near his car. he pulls off after tipping each drop into his tank. it feels like a going away party because everyone’s watching him leave and no one feels any different about anything.

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