I sat in Meng’s weary, waiting br dusk long since descended br nightfall now master of the sky br with wind blown snow br swirling chaos into perfection. br And finally Mabel Muldoon trudged in br with eight children from her belly br aching for the return of daddy br who got caught robbing a liquor store br so he could buy Christmas presents br worthy of Mr. Michael Muldoon. br Now Mabel sold herself br to raise bail, but unable to succeed. br Not because she wasn’t good-looking br but would only lie there br weary, waiting until lust unraveled. br Al Hoppe went with Mabel br but her sadness and his sadness br shut down desire. br “Thirty years of whores, Bernstein, ” he said br staring hard at me with “I’m finished.” br Mabel plopped at my table. br “Empty streets, ” she sighed. br “A night like this, ” I said. br “Cold.” br “Cold.” br And I wiped the wetness from her cheeks. br “Wish I had a million dollars.” br And I wished for words.