remaining in gear at the car wash

while i dug for their money

in my wallet while they

were already spraying toward

my open window

so, i lurched forward

was yelled at, “Stop!”

and the disgusted attendant

pointed to the sign commanding

the car be in neutral

how many times have i been through

an automatic car wash not to know?

how devastating that a minute virus

can grind me into incompetence