A quick stop at the grocery
for soda and smokes
found me behind an old lady
who was trying to come up with
four cents so she wouldn’t have
to break another retirement dollar.

I put on my best smile and said
“Please, allow me.”

She told me how sweet I was
and gave me a pat on the cheek.
“Thank you young man.”
(I’m sixty years old)

I just wanted to get out of there
to feed my nicotine habit.
After a few puffs I realized
what a big shit I was and wished
I hadn't parted with that four cents
for why I did. I should have gotten
a boot in my butt rather than
a pat on the cheek.(young man)
and
I would have been more than
four cents richer for it.