'I might go out for some lunch, ' was the thought in Bill's head <br />I'll ask if anyone wants a meat pattie on bread <br />Lucy in accounts asked if he'd kindly buy <br />A cheeseburger, large coke and small packet of fries <br /> <br />He strode up to the counter to order this meal <br />But was confronted with a question which made his head reel <br />'Do you have a senior citizen's card? ' the young girl asked <br />'No, I don't', he replied and looked at her askance <br /> <br />The manager, half grown herself, a problem she perceived <br />The customer of his embarrassment she wanted to relieve <br />So she stage whispered out loud and clear <br />'Don't ask them if they have a card, the poor dears <br /> <br />They don't like it if you ask them, even if their hair's grey <br />It's better not to ask, 'cos you'll only turn them away <br />They may look ancient, moth-eaten and fossilised <br />But don't ask 'cos you'll only see the hurt in their eyes' <br /> <br />Bill related this story to a friend of middling years <br />Which only served to give her an additional fear <br />If served by a young boy, she wouldn’t feel flattered <br />If the burger was 10% off, in fact she’d be shattered <br /> <br /> <br />(Sydney, Australia-2007)<br /><br />Alessandra Liverani<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/buying-lunch-humour/
