Rutherford loads
the Mercedes van
he’s rented
for the trip
He holds up his guitar
like he’s offering it
to the sun.
May the force be with us!
On the way,
Elvis listens
to talk radio
that features
nonstop
belligerent
banter
that only he
and Joy understand,
for the most part,
except every
few minutes
when an expletive
English word
is sprinkled in,
followed by
garish laughter.
So, the rest of us
try to sleep.