In The Apple Tree

He read an extremely interesting story
about an amnesiac
who was captivated by the story
he was reading
And forgot he was there.

He thought he was at work
stacking shelves
proving right those who said he would
Never amount to anything

The woman on the till
gave him the book
because he showed promise

He thought was in aisle seven
near the baked goods
stacking shelves
thinking about being at school,
about being told to avoid using adverbs
when he was writing.
But he only half-recalled the rule
and avoided adverbs
when he was reading.

He thought he was on page two
of the book
trapped in the margin
working his way by inches
around the word ‘slowly’.