The Odds of Breaking Even

Oh, the odds of breaking even, what a curious game,

It's like betting on sunshine, in Seattle’s rain!

Every dollar we earn has a place it must go,

To mortgages, groceries, and fixing the stove.

We budget and balance, then take a deep breath,

But then there’s that dentist who charges in stealth.

Or the car that decides it just won’t start,

And now it’s a tow fee that breaks the ol’ heart.

We’ve tried every trick to keep things on track,

But the math doesn’t add up—always something we lack.

Like socks from the dryer that just disappear,

Our paychecks vanish, sometimes we fear.

Kelli says, “Next month, we’ll get ahead,

As long as the fridge doesn’t drop dead.”

And I nod, with a grin, knowing it’s true,

The odds of breaking even? A wild rendezvous!

So here’s to the hustle, to the scrapes and the bends,

To making it work with laughs ‘til the end.

For as long as we’ve got us, I’d say we’re not broke,

And that’s worth every penny, every odd little joke.

© Susie Stiles-Wolf