Come Back

1973:  people wanted somewhere to drink
that reminded them of the good old days.  
How quickly they'd forgotten.  

I restored the Mambo Club.  Pink 
and white striped awnings fanned  
over the doors and windows buzzing 
with electric pink lights.  Everything
inside was stylish again.

I gave my story to the press 
to help promote my grand opening.  
A Pittsburgh boy got famous painting 
soup cans so I wasn't surprised 
the Mambo Club and I were interesting 
reading.   

I told the reporter about being raped,
married and widowed in the same club.   
He was puzzled:  why re-open?  why not leave? 

It was the last place I'd been 
before the rapes.  It was 
the only place I felt 
like it wasn't my fault,
the only chance I had
to find love.




copyright 1994 kathy jo kramer