Not noticing how the waitresses look at each other,
roll their eyes as I seat myself
on an empty chair at an empty table,
not knowing I’ve innocently sat
at the  “Regular’s table” in the local café,
just before the first “Regular”
reaches for his usual chair,
sits down beside me, doesn’t say a word,
as if I’m just a misplaced salt shaker,
when the second “Regular” sits down,
then the third, the fourth, the fifth.
They all begin talking at the same time;
no one says a word to me or gives me a glance,
and I finally get the hint, get up, head to the counter,
wondering on which stool I should sit
as I watch as the “Regular’s table” fills up,
all but the chair where I sat.
A waitress coyly smiles at me, asks if I’d like coffee,
I say, no thanks, I’d rather have a cup of tea.

© by Larry Schug. 
Used with the author’s permission.