every day comes accelerating proof/that i am or am becoming the cranky old man cliché/i made such cruel fun of in my youngsterhood.

why, just half an hour ago/when a young man lurked by the lobby door/that requires a key fob for entry/and wanted to use me to get in/i said “forgot your fob?”

“why no I don’t”–“you don’t live here??”

with a half-apologetic air he said “my girlfriend is asleep.”

“when i let someone i don’t know in, i feel like i am betraying my fellow residents.”

“I promise I’m not homeless or–“ “grrr. the POINT is not to put me in this position.” and walked away before he answered.

sure. i am not becoming a cranky old man. I am a cranky old man.

but my younger, cruel-fun self ought to be aSHAMED of himself.

pfui.