Perhaps, Letty thinks
she is a duck.

Her words never echo
even in the vast vacuum of this new premises

If she has benefactors
(but she doesn’t)
the cash would make the loss
of words much easier,
she thinks.

And old lover flatters Elizabeth,
and Letty is hurt. For not reason.
His dick was limp as his soul
and she was glad to be rid of him.

But Letty was sad when she absently brushed
her left hand over her right forearm.

He says to Elizabeth
he needs 3-4 thousand pounds.

She yells, “James needs chocolate,
Pronto.”

He rolls his eyes, and shows Hannah Webster
around the new space.

Letty hears Elizabeth invite that disheveled ass
Marcus to dine with her.

In the lady’s room, after their new desks are full
of office supplies, Elizabeth says
“Letty, he interests me. I know he tries to seduce women
for profit and most probably pleasure.

But he he interests me. Did you see the photos
of the orphanage?

He helped put in heat and sanitation.
And he flatters me.”

Letty hugs her, and confides
“I have still not told James.
that I hate him.”

Elizabeth hugs her back.

In the ladies room, the voices almost echo
again.