Coin Shortages by Tinashe Tafirenyika

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"I do not have any coins
So for your change
Will you take condoms or cigarettes?"
Unconsciously she shrinks my choices
To either lung cancer
Or ninety-something-percent "safe" sex
And the percentage decreases considerably
If it is your first time
Or the donors gave us an expired batch

She repeats
"Condoms or cigarettes?"
I don't want lung cancer
I don't want ten percent unsafe sex  either
So I smile and say;
"It's okay
You can just keep the change"

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