In the corner, a fat man sits waiting for service.
This is not the man I have come to see – no way.
"I am looking to have these knives sharpened."
I say it like I mean it.
I don't leave any "if, ands, or buts" about it.

"I suppose we can get that done."
A voice from behind – it takes me by surprise.
"Good..." I say, "Because that's good, because I wanted to have..."
My voice trails off. He gentles my things away.
He is tall – lanky. He is a knife man.

Separating the knives from my rubber-banded rap,
He picks out the largest: the lengthy butcher's piece.
Thumbing its blade with his machine-shed talon, he speaks:
"Well this is no good, you'll have to get these sharpened."
He understands everything.

He switches on the "Tru-Hone" – a series of screeching wheels.
It makes the sounds a knife sharpener should. I am confident of this.
There are ten more machines scattered here and there.
Larger than the "Tru-Hone" – they all look the same to me.
I imagine things are different for him.

I watch, enraptured, intrigued.
This is a fixit that leaves no room for conversation.
The fat man in the corner inspects a new stain.
The sharpener turns: "Nobody likes a messy fat guy..."
The truth flows from him like water.

Maybe I misheard him through the ruckus,
The aural interference,
And the barrier of straightening steel.
Perhaps he said, "Nobody needs a snazzy new buy..."
He speaks in tongues, and I hear what I want.

A dog approaches from the shaded sidewall.
It nuzzles my leg and begs to be pet.
Its skin is like leather, but I must oblige.
It is his dog and, for that reason, it is a great dog.
It is anxious about its facial growth.

Eyes on the dog, the fat man glares in wretched jealousy.
This fat man...what a Judas,
He does not care for my humble craftsman.
He is only using him for the free lawnmower blade sharpening.
I know this in my heart.

"Well that's about it." he places my blades into cardboard safety sheaths.
He cares for my well-being.
"Three, four, five...that's seven – I also take credit.”
He smiles, his grin brimmeth over.
He knows just what I need.