Siren of the Streets by Donal Mahoney
Photo by Carol Bales Whenever she comes by it's always the same thing. I make her comfortable and then she leaves. I tell her she's a harlot hooking up all night with God knows who but in her case God looks the other way. Curious neighbors ask if I know her. I ask them do I look like that kind of man? Peter denied Christ thrice but I make Peter a piker when it comes to denying this siren of the streets. Once in a while a neighbor, smitten as I am, takes her in because she's attractive and it's peaceful until some morning very early she's on my deck again heartbroken, forlorn, willing to do anything for a nosh and a drink. Since no one is up at that hour to see me I sit on the deck and she leaps on my lap and I stroke her until she's a Lamborghini purring at a...