Table Manners Extended

 

Once upon a trip down South
not with family nor with spouse
far too young to realize then
a lesson in life would soon begin

at a fine restaurant we did eat
the intent at the time, her daddy's treat
when I inquired "How much money did it cost?"
an opportunity to teach he insured not lost

"You may look at the check, if you feel you must
but rest assured, in my words you can trust"
"For the one who picks up the bill to peek
is the one who's turn, it becomes to treat."

but, being a child of about nine or ten
I misread his words and even his grin
nearly forty years later, I'm still sharing
his words of manners with whomever is daring

And to this day, I've yet to retrieve
the $45 bucks, that mistake cost me


A true story and over the course of a lifetime, money well spent.