In the cafe (the other day)
I ordered tea
(as I usually do)
and a muffin.
I was going to drink the tea
while eating nothing
but my children prevailed.

"Children" I call them?
He's 22. Tall and very laconic
A RAAFie tech in Townsville.
She's 18. Fesity and sharp. Occasionally funny
in love with an Army boy.
Who's based
in Townsville.
How long since we were together
in a cafe?
How long until we'll be together again?

In the cafe (the other day)
I ordered tea
(As I usually do)
and a muffin.
I was going to drink the tea
while eating nothing
but my children prevailed.

The muffin arrived,
and the other orders
a giant fruit salad
and coffee with something
clearly sinister
in the bottom.
(My daughter's)
A big chicken burger
and a cup of Earl Grey tea.
(To please my son.)
My own tea arrived in a little pot
with a jug of milk beside.

I swirled the pot,
and noted
something passing strange...
Two strings on the teabag
"Oh," said my son (that fountain of knowledge)
"that's so you can squeeze it."
I swirled again, and peered inside...
The tea was
sort of
yellow.

I stirred and wrung, then sniffed and tasted.
"What the blazes is this?"
Emperor Garden? What?
It wasn't proper tea.
Well, not to me.

"Send it back," advised my son.
Now I don't like to make a fuss
but it wasn't what I wanted.
"Might I have some ordinary tea?"
I asked
politely, (as I was taught)
of the waitress.

The waitress took the offending pot
and wandered off. She returned -
Holding a cup of plain hot water
and a teabag.

The teabag tag
was
yellow.
It was Earl Grey.
Earl Grey?
All I can say
is this-
It wasn't proper tea.
Well, not to me.

"Call her back," advised my son.
(While my daughter disapproved
silently, but loudly, into her coffee)

"Might I have some ordinary tea? Like Bushells?"
I asked again
politely, (of the waitress)
as I was taught.

"We ran out of Bushells," said the waitress
and again she wandered off.

I didn't drink the tea.
I ate the muffin.

"I ordered *tea*,"
I sulked
fretfully (I confess).
"You should have specified,"
observed my daughter.
"I did," I said. "I asked for tea.
Nothing herbal or fancy."
"You should have specified "Indian"," said my daughter.

"No she shouldn't," said my son,
jumping in both footed.
"Indian tea is the default..."

"Yes," I chimed in
(heartened by his support.)
"If I ordered water, I wouldn't accept Ribena."
"Not the same thing," said my daughter.

We argued the afternoon away...
just as we did
in days when they were children...