surely that threadbare tire finally will blow if only
because you’re tardy getting to your daughter’s school.
A detour to the garage will get you a new tire
installed in less than an hour for $65 however

what if you pulled into this tiny drive, walled in by this
black rubber mountain, in shaky hand its painted sign:
Reyes Tires. This part of town is safe in daylight, right?

he’s small and Spanish-speaking but with an accent
not South Texas. His smile says you’re not from this
neighborhood, are you? Plucks a tire from the mountain, worn
but not threadbare and rolls it to you: "This is good one."

fifteen dollars, he says, fifteen minutes. Whirs lug nuts off,
kicks the tire to jar it from the wheel, and in ten is done

but who knows who’s more embarrassed when he says
"No credit cards." Who knows if he believes you when
you promise to return with cash, and quickly he nods yes

when you lay the bills in the small man’s hand,
his smile says he lost a bet with himself. "Thank
you," you say, leaning in, making eye contact.
"Any time."