Girlfriend

It is 1963 I am 17
I walk into the almost
Empty police station to
The yellow line in front
Of the counter as the
Police sergeant looks
Up at me gestures me
Forward I place a brown
Paper bag on the counter
The officer looks at me
I say I am looking for a
Girlfriend the officer looks
Into the bag taking out a
Pair of old girl’s tennis shoes
Socks panties bra shorts blouse
All clean but old then looks at
Me so I take from my shirt
Pocket a photo of a hand
Painted map of Europe in
WWII saying this is my alibi
It’s taken me weeks to paint
On a ping pong tabletop plus
Assorted pieces of plywood
The officer looks at me and
Says what is your girlfriend’s
Name I reply I don’t have a
Girlfriend but I hoped the police
Might help me find one an idea
That seems less funny by the
Minute and it occurs to me if
My sister Susan were to walk
In she would hold up both hands
Shaking her head no no if it
Were Penny she’d say his head is
Getting bigger each day if it were
Sarah she’d say those are my old
Clothes if David he’d say he was
Not looking for a girlfriend if
Mary she’d say best to keep
Both feet on the floor with this
One if my step-sister Charlotte
She’d say not a blood relation
And if my step-sister Sharon
She’d say Mary is right about
Him and then I woke up.