Stereotypes are wrong
but statistics
rarely lie.

So many bad tips
are predicted
and foreseen.

It's the unexpected ones
that make a deer in headlights
out of any waiter.

The miniscule tips.
The double-the-tax tips.
The not-tipping-on-wine tips.

The formula tips.
The "what the...?" tips.
The "French people don't" tips.

But who can ignore
the scariest tip of all?
The "nice" tip.

"Everything was wonderful!"
"We had a great time!"
"The best waiter ever!"

The signs are always there
looking back is 20/20
but seldom are they seen.

If only one could
assign a dollar amount
to compliments.

Maybe then my bills
would be paid faster
and always on time.

Instead I am left
to take on the next table
as if nothing ever happened.

10/29/2008

Posted on 10/29/2008
Copyright © 2024 Jeffrey Parren