A Starbucks Moment From ... The Neither/Nor Journal

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You tell a clever joke while getting a  refill. 

The girl behind the counter laughs 

and then doesn't charge you anything. 

That is a nice moment 

and you are grateful.
 

The next day, you try the same joke

on another Starbucks employee

but she charges you 50¢

for the refill because 

"that is company policy." 

She even points out a sign

on the wall to that effect. 

You pay the 50¢

wordlessly

but seethe within your skin

Then you realize that

this girl is just doing her job. 

Though you may not like her for that,

there is suddenly respect 

where had been

pleasantry.

Respect being a concept

so much nicer than Nice.

***

PAUL OLIVERIO

1999

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Footnotes

A STARBUCKS MOMENT FROM...

THE NEITHER/NOR JOURNAL

is the copyrighted property of LCSOL

It was also copyrighted nineteen years ago 

THE NEITHER/NOR JOURNAL,

published in 1999, was subtitled

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