Life with Tony

There he stood,
barefoot, scraped, and dirty,
coming through the doorway
that led back to the cells.
He looked sadder than I had ever seen him.

He told me the story.
I suppose you're obligated anyway
to the one who bails you out.

They had tricked him, he said,
told him to come down to the police station
to pick up his car.
So he went.

He said he just knew from the looks on their faces
so he ran.
He bolted from the police station and ran.
He ran through backyards and over fences
and had run-ins with dogs.
His shoes fell off as he ran.
That's why he had no shoes now.

He had tried to shoot his girlfriend.
I guess he didn't think she'd report it.
She had the same name as the last girlfriend
that he had tried to shoot.