a lesson in bringing people home

she gave the invitation with the inflection of a school girl
come? to my parent's house? they won't be home?
and plucked like fruit from a basket his eyes
lit up and nodded yes yes yes yes, panting

and the drive out of the city was long
but only because the buildings spread farther and farther apart
making the stretch longer, wider
between here and there

she pointed to the streets and found the landmarks
that was the road my best friend lived on
that was the place we found that cat
here is where i grew up

and they entered the house like strangers
she, as though sharing great realms
sprung in her parent's space
flinging lights on with such abandon he winced

and he, he felt the presence of many many
although she had said her family would not be home
and wandering among bills addressed to them
food left by them

he wondered if they would ever be alone

in the bathroom there were towels that her parents left
and he tried not to notice their looming
while she twirled haphazardly in the small shower
rubbing other people's shampoo through her hair

he avoided the places in the floor most run down by traffic
as though the occupants still stood there
and neglected all the food in the fridge
the saved channels on the remote

the photo albums, the tired blankets
the pile of shoes, the stack of marked books
the can of used pens, the half empty bottles of soda
the lists of chores neglected and others crossed away

do you see this place? he asked her
everything here is touched by your family
don't you feel them?
there is too much of them here

this is all me
this is all me here she said