Felicity Teague

Ts & Cs
     July, August, September, 1998

At Sudeley Castle’s restaurant,
I am the teas-and-coffees girl.
Please queue to tell me what you want;
I take the order, make a twirl.

I am the teas-and-coffees girl
behind the counter, clear and clean.
I take the order, make a twirl
just to and from the mix machine.

Behind the counter, clear and clean,
I know my marks, the trodden tracks
just to and from the mix machine,
beside the cups-and-saucers racks.

I know my marks, the trodden tracks,
one-eighty there and back again,
beside the cups-and-saucers racks,
whilst tourists talk about the rain.

One-eighty there and back again,
the tray prepared and carried round
whilst tourists talk about the rain;
cha-ching!, the till. A tip! One pound.

The tray prepared and carried round;
it’s funding for my second year.
Cha-ching!, the till. A tip! One pound.
The first-year debt will start to clear.

It’s funding for my second year –
I’ve spoken with the bankman, Bob.
The first-year debt will start to clear;
I really need this summer job.

I’ve spoken with the bankman, Bob –
please queue to tell me what you want;
I really need this summer job,
at Sudeley Castle’s restaurant.

Felicity Teague (Fliss for short) lives in Cheltenham, not far from Pittville Park and its wonderful wildlife. She works in the gig economy and edits Well Met, a metrical poetry showcase. Her poetry has appeared in a number of journals and she has published two collections; she is currently assembling her third. She also enjoys art, films, music, and photography.