Customer Math 3

After spending several more minutes than I needed to
waiting for this customer to count the change in her purse
despite the fact she is 18 or 19 at most and
should not be counting 
pennies like a Grandma
and having to retract her order several dozen times
based on her extreme indecision
and ability to be completely surprised by items
that had been right in front of her face for five minutes
but she suddenly just discovered them
and had to have them
but then not want them 
I do my best to fight off a sign of relief as I hand her
her bags and wish her a good day.

As she takes a step towards the door, she pauses and turns around.
“Would you happen to have the time?” she asks.
I point above me, to the analog clock that has been there 
the entire time.
She stares at it quizzically, 
for more than a full minute.
 “Can't you just tell me what time it is?”
I look up to check on it.
“It's working, isn't it?” I ask.
“Yeah,” she says. “But I'm not good at math.”

---

This poem is a sample from Ishwa's (James P. Wagner's) upcoming poetry chapbook
"The Customer Is Often Wrong"

Sign up below to be notified of its release.

---