buying time for $133.06

I tell diana in the rental office

i will not be able to move out at the end of the month

she says another month can be had

i say i need three more days at the most

she graciously prorates the days

going tikky-tik-tik on her calculator

it will be $133.06

cashier’s check or money order only

i walk in the late-june phoenix heat

to the mile-away money place

I am a first-timer

so they verify identity and take my picture

i walk out with the money order and receipt

in a hundred steps I realize I could use an envelope

even my fingertips are sweating

I change fingertip position a lot, avoiding soaking

i arrive at office and hand diana the money order

she has me fill out the pay to the order

and apartment number and signature

and then she smiles and tears off the stub

and hands me the stub which is my receipt

and i have three more pressure-relieving

cheaper-than-a-hotel-room days