And there I was
young and nervous
in the crowded line
in the restaurant
leading to the cashier
my girl waiting
as I clutched the bill
a twenty dollar bill
to cover the cost
and I turned my head
to look at something
turned back the twenty gone
I looked around to catch who
maybe the retreating back
of a waiter not ours
walking away
I didn’t know what to do
reached the head of the line
had just enough to pay
“Tip?”
“No,” I said,
“I gave already.”

(In 1961, that $20 was worth over $200 today!)