How could you not see this

he said/she said

I believe her, that the corrugated tube

and the window slats were sitting right 

next to the air conditioner, waiting

patiently for her brother to pick them up,

to deliver them to their mother

(who so generously loaned such appliance 

in the heat of summer, of smoke and ozone)

the ac arrived, without the required hardware

to vent to the hot and smoky outside but 

he said he knew nothing about it, and

she said everything was right together,

obviously together.

I went back to the rental house and thankfully,

the corrugated tube and its accompanying window slat

were left out for me to pick up

at my convenience

it was actually not convenient, but that's ok

I believe her, not him.