The last employee

by Alexander Stessin

* * *

The last employee
Of phone sex industry
Somewhere in the state of Ohio
Services her only remaining client
After hours, for old time’s sake, free of charge.
The internet flood of sex chats, porn sites, and all
Has pushed the two of them to the curb of life.
They’re not what they used to be,
Though, as everyone knows,
The voice ages slower than the body,
And the body they’ve never seen:
All these years
Their passion’s remained truly blind,
Their closeness — remote.
One could even call them
Purists of a fading genre.
At eight PM,
Starting with the customary
“What’s your name, baby?”
She lights up a cig and, hearing his familiar voice,
Exhales with tenderness:
“Nice to meet you, Ricardo.”