Mama Said

The pungent smell of cigarettes inflames her nose
She wants to turn around and run
Run far away until the blinking lights are no longer visible
But she hears mama’s voice telling her it’s all right to stay

So she walks to the end of the bar
With every step she takes in her six-inch heels comes the threat of falling
But mama said not to worry
She’d get used to them in no time

Taking a seat at the bar, she looks around
She can’t help but stare at all the lowlifes;
She can’t help thinking she is one

The bartender interrupts her train of thought, asks her what she’d like
She whispers the words,
“A beer, please”
The bartender just laughs, slams the glass down in front of her
The first sip makes her wrinkle her nose in disgust
But mama said not to worry
She’d get used to the taste in no time

So she keeps drinking
The bitter taste gets less and less with each sip
The empty glasses begin piling up in front of her
She feels eyes on her
Eventually those eyes become a man walking towards her
She can’t help but feel nervous
But mama said not to worry
Nothing bad would ever happen to her

Soon enough, the man’s pulling her away from the cigarette smell and the blinking lights
Her morals fight him off
But her hands give in

She’s awakened by the sunlight of a new day
Looking around the empty motel room, she sees her clothes lying everywhere
And notices hundred dollar bills lying on the nightstand
She frantically tries to piece together the night

But mama said not to worry
Everyone remembers their first