Just Junk by Chris Sorrenti
23 years old that 32 incher
CRT monster
bought with government Pay Equity money
$1,000 from Future Shop
long since gone out of business
As I get it ready
some sentiment slips into my own picture tube
not surprising
when contemplating how many people
watched it with me
family
girlfriends
movie and poetry parties
back in the day
now slowly fading to a blank screen
I’m their first call
arranged online only minutes ago
two guys phone ahead
show up
quite willing to climb the stairs to my bedroom
its final resting place
after inheriting dad’s flat screen when he passed
Paying by credit card
$134.47
tax included
a minimum charge
on the workman's portable debit machine
and though there's more stuff
in the basement
it will have to wait for another time
they head out the door
“Oh, by the way, that TV still works,
but not with today’s digital technology”
the workman shrugs
“That’s too bad, it’ll be going to recycling anyway”

© 2023
340 hits as of February 2025
09/15/2023 Posted on 09/15/2023 Copyright © 2025 Chris Sorrenti
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