User Error

He crouched and looked at the pipe

for about forty seconds.

Stood back up. Said he didn't see anything.

I said it's there in the morning.

He said probably condensation.

He said, are you sure you're not —

and stopped.

I said yes. He left.

The towel was dry when he came.

It's always dry by mid-morning —

that's how slow it is.

He'd have to be here early.

I put a fresh one down last night.

This morning: the oval again,

spreading from the elbow joint

or whatever that bend is called.

I sat on the bathroom floor

and looked at the pipe for a while,

trying to figure out what I'm doing

that's causing this.