Tables and Chairs

I walk into work and your smile is there waiting
And it upturns my thoughts so I fall up the stairs
Timing in I can’t seem to remember my number
While a manager shouts to me “tables and chairs!”
I hurry to help her and move them to work
For the booking we have for twenty at seven
In the corner of my eye I see you turning the food
Surrounded by flame and aromas of heaven.
Collecting the menus I see something fall
A folded note that I slip in my pocket
But as I walk back past I notice you wink
And grinning wink back, my heart like a rocket.
A plate in each hand and running the stairs
I twirl in the kitchen as no one can see
Singing my feelings and sorting the forks
Work comes like clockwork I’m feeling so free.
You finish at 10 but I work till close
I hug you before you slip out the door
You hum back the tune I was singing beforehand
So I burst into laughter, can do nothing more.
The next day I swirl like a pen into work
But can see that their eyes are worried and cold
Blue lights are flashing and no food is cooking
To black and white coats our stories are told.
Nobody saw you after you left
The driver himself did not stop or to wait
You didn’t arrive the next day so they called
You didn’t arrive because it was too late.
Wrapping my apron I walk down the stairs
The day looks as grey a note out of tune
Putting my hand in my pocket I find
The note that is ripped up and in my mind strewn:
“Your smile is like laughter when nobody cares
I’m falling in love with you running the stairs”
Now whenever she shouts to me “Tables and chairs!”
I hum back the tune while my heart softly tears.