Dear Loretta

I’m the sad clown who mops the stage after the shows at Turning Stone Casino and Resort, the Indian profit center of Central New York. Loretta Lynn wasn’t out after curtain with her Maglite looking for ground scores a couple nights ago, so I got to keep this find from downstage right. Other stagehands’ girlfriends got the wilted roses. The stars really don’t care, not the B-listers on the casino circuit, not anymore. Marlene was busy blowing out the candles on her birthday cake and didn’t hear Loretta say, “I dedicate this to Marlene,” right before singing “When the Tingle Becomes a Chill.”