Counter-Culture Gang Wars at Hollywood Video The clerk at Hollywood Video,
the one with the Spanish accent and the short curly jet black hair
well-gelled and combed,
usually works the late-night shift,
and he doesn’t like me.
Always so snide,
whether it’s asking me where’s the case to the Taxi Driver VHS I’m returning,
thanking me for walking in the store with overdue Storytelling & Tape and thus setting off the alarm,
or correcting my paying him six dollars when the charge was $4.86 but he was mumbling so incomprehensively I coulda sworn he said $5.86…

walking home with Hannibal in my hand,
Aussies Craig Steen and Stu at my side,
I comment that guy really doesn’t like me
doesn’t try to hide it
almost ‘sif he feels obligated to show it.

“That’s ‘cause he’s a goth boy,” Craig explains,
“that suit he was wearing was just his uniform,
you can tell by his jewelry and the black pants.
‘spose he’s at odds with you ‘cause you dress so colorful.”

“But I get along well with Goths,” I protest,
Funny,
I had assumed he was one of those types with authoritarian tendencies due to pent up sexual insecurity,
and thus the odd and indulgent use of bright colors in my wardrobe,
my long hair and general radical appearance,
gave him the need to last out at me,
protect his society
(as if it’s served him so well),
but no,
I suppose Craig’s right
it’s just a gang feud of the counterculture
he’s defending his gothic turf
(hmm… black Astroturf, now that’s a sexy aesthetic),
hoping his dark, mystical, enchanted vampire invocations
will overcome my free-love pinko pot-smokin’ flower power.