How You Got Your Picture on the Wall

Growing up in Richmond
You were anarchic and shy
Tried to steal some tampons
That you were too scared to buy
"Say cheese" the Kroger manager said
In his fateful drawl
That was how you got your picture on the wall

You told me the story
The first night that we hung out
A thousand miles west
In your new room in your new house
You laughed when I said
"I'd like to see that photo now"
And we kissed beneath the pictures on your wall

A couple Julys later
And we live together now
I drove your van to Richmond
To move your kid brother out
And cruising by the Kroger
I remembered all about
Laney, how you got your picture on the wall

I snuck around the back
To where deliveries arrive
I saw a door said MANAGER
And so I went inside
A grid of Polaroids stared
Yours stared hardest of them all
That was how I got your picture off the wall

That was how I got your picture off the wall