MidNight McSERVICE (No Sugar)

The closing crew is cleaning up too soon

–hours ahead of schedule

We stragglers still need coffee

and french fries

We know better than ask for ice cream

“Medium Americano, please…”

“...and a large unsweetened tea”

…no sugar” I emphasize, but softly

I do not want spit added.

This far South,

‘sweet’ is all that translates sometimes

…syrup always pre-supposed

But, leap, weary bones, in surprise

the first sip of tea is crisp

unsweetened and cold,

my coffee hot, without machine-clean excuses.

I am grateful and impressed.

Behind me, a new trash bag yawns loudly to life

in the hands of a young man

who probably has high school tomorrow

With goodwill, in a tiny act of solidarity,

I cram the receipt into my own pocket

rather than mar his fresh can-vas

Everybody here just wants to go home.