We had been out somewhere
as we almost always were
came home to our big house
on Third Street
in Riverside
that had once been
the Free School
apparently on the circuit
like a safe house
for those on the fringe
where drugs and goings on
led the realtor
to change tenants
and that’s how we got the place
but knew the previous
as friends
so we weren’t entirely
surprised to find
while we were gone
someone had broken in
by the unlocked back door
not robbers
looked around
noticed changes
our small belongings
left some money
on the counter
as if to say
you need it
more than I do