Traffic Made Me Grumpy

hello, she said
peering down the steps as I sat at the computer,
contemplating the loading screen

howdy, i replied
standing and divesting myself of watch, wallet, keys, and silence

i’m going to be talking on teamspeak, she said
with my friends
from rochester
so if you hear me talking out
loud
you know why, she said
and turned away

what game are you trying now, i asked
following upstairs, needing a drink
trying to be polite
punctuating my question with the
hiss
of a soda can

on sundays, she said
my friends
get together
and play online foosh games
many different ones
and now i can play too,
i heard her smile

and hurt by her joy
her now nightly tapping
her now constant talking
to friends she neglected
ignored
like
me
i lowered the temperature of my voice
you are forbidden to use foosh, i said
foosh is a couple word
there is no couple

and i felt her spirit
drop
and i felt her guilt
weigh
i’m sorry, she said softly
as i walked away

i said nothing
and went back downstairs
slightly ashamed
at the satisfaction of being petty