normal business hours

written by nova reeves

effective immediately, the letter says like its changing the office coffee brand envelope glue on my thumb phone at three percent, kitchen light buzzing im making boxed mac and cheese because its tuesday and i have standards the portal wants my legal name the one i changed, the one it kept little red circle turning like a cheap threat

additional documentation required additional documentation required

normal business hours monday through friday normal business hours please have your card ready normal business hours the line is open the line is open the line is open

case number oh four six, seven seven one nine written on the back of a grocery receipt forty seven eighteen and no paper towels somebody put the peaches back then stood there touching the blue pen cap like it might tell them what to do the woman at the desk says im sorry and means it, which is almost worse shes got a cartoon bandage on her finger and a kid asking where the scissors are through her speakerphone while she reads revised federal guidance like weather, like closing time

additional documentation required additional documentation required

normal business hours monday through friday normal business hours bring the original normal business hours the line is open the line is open the line is open

my pharmacy screen goes white at four forty three then coughs up, refill too soon except it isnt i know because i count the little fucking bottles under the bathroom sink like theyre rent money the pharmacist lowers his voice and says i can try the clinic again my old id is in my wallet behind a coupon for tire rotation the name fits nowhere now not the card, not the screen, not the room i laugh once, mean as a snapped string cool. love a scavenger hunt where the prize is hormones.

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normal business hours the hold song loops its four dead notes normal business hours somebodys dinner burns in another apartment your call is important then pick up the goddamn phone your call is important yeah, devastating news for both of us your call is important the printer jams, naturally your call is important im still here im still here

the queue moves from twelve to eleven helena screams at nothing in the hall i fold the letter along its old hard crease put it in my jacket pocket turn the stove back on your call is important