ODE TO THE SERVING GIRL

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You swing up to the counter

And order your meal

You state your preferences

And pay your cash

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She gives you a smile

And tosses her hair to start your meal

She caters to your whim

And states the amount and takes the cash

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Did you ever wonder?

How long that she’s been working,

Or if her feet are swollen and aching,

Or if she’s thirsty at all?

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Does it ever give you food for thought

To think that she’s at the counter every day in, day out

In the same stained uniform

With her hair in her sagging bun?

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Have you ever pondered

How she’s feeling at all?

When you scream and shout

You make her day just that little worse

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You can’t see it but it’s there

The tears in the corner of her eyes

The shaking of the chin

And the wilt of her smile

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You don’t know it’s happening

But everything is somehow that much harder

And her shift just seems to drag

She can’t quite manage the usual grin

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Her supervisor will catch her later

She knows this as she smiles

“I’m sorry, would you like me to start again?”

She’s only there for you to abuse, after all

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And then her shift is over

She takes off her apron and her hat

She thinks she’s finally free

Her mood just lifts and her smile returns

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But then her manager glares

The girl lifts her head and tries to grin

As the manager gives her an earful

About what she did wrong that day

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The girl scrutinizes her manager

She’s a great person to work for

Funny, nice and a really great person

The girl bears no grudges at all

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The serving girl is back the next day

A fresh smile on her face

You rock up to the counter

Insult her and her workplace

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You don’t know it’s happening

But you’re denting her self - confidence

But as long as you get what you want

Who cares?

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But when you’re at the counter

Just be nice and smile

Don’t argue or complain

Don’t give a dirty look

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Remember the serving girl

Remember that she’s human

Remember that you’re dimming her smile

Remember that she’s doing her best

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Just think one day that could be you

And wonder to yourself

Is that the way I want to be treated?

Because what will you do when you’re confronted with someone like you?