drove in from the track after losing $50.
a hot day out there
they pack them in on a Saturday;
my feet hurt and I had pains in the neck
and about the shoulders—
nerves: large crowds of people more than
unsettle me.
pulled into the driveway and got the
mail
moved up and parked it
went in and opened the IRS letter
form 525 (sc) (Rev. 9-83)
read it
and was informed that I owed
TWELVE THOUSAND SIXHUNDREDFOUR DOLLARS
        AND
SEVENTY EIGHT CENTS
on my 1981 income tax plus
TWO THOSUAND EIGHTHUNDREDEIGHTYTHREE
        DOLLARS
AND TWELVE CENTS interest
and that further interest was being
compounded
DAILY.
I went into the kitchen and poured a
drink.
life in America was a curious
thing.
well, I could let the interest
build
that’s what the government
did
but after a while they would
come for me
or whatever I had
left.
at least that $50 loss at the
track didn’t look so
bad anymore.
I’d have to go tomorrow and
win $15,487.90 plus
daily compounded
interest.
I drank to that,
wishing I had purchased a
Racing Form
on the way
out.