Receptionist

Half past eight, I got in
This morning.
Every morning, and then
Got things ready:
Photocopier, computer,
You know.

And this man was waiting.
“Why aren’t they here?”
He asked.
“I don’t know,”
I said,
“Do you have an appointment?”
Seemed to think
I should know
Who he was.
I got him a coffee
To keep him sweet.

They do that all the time,
Every day,
All think they’re important.
I know HR tells us to
Treat Them All The Same;
Every Client Is Important.

Well, so am I.

Half an hour I got
For lunch.
I should take the full
Hour,
But I’m so busy.

You should see
How much food
They ordered in for lunch.
Waste, sheer waste.
They won’t eat it and
It’ll all go to
The Post Boy.
Eats like a horse and
Smokes like a chimney.
Never eats at home,
Spends all his money on
Debts and dope, I suppose.
Has every scrap of
Leftover buffet.
The secretaries tell him.
Wouldn’t like to think
What he gets up to in
That Post Room.
Disgusting!

Money for old rope,
Employing people like that.

And the travel I have to arrange:
First Class,
All of it.
No thought of saving money.
I should sell my story,
That’d show them.
I went Standard when I did my
Fire Training.
I don’t want to be a Warden,
Silly orange hat and jerkin.
They said I had to -
On the desk,
Taking the names -
Had to be a
Responsible Person.

I should get a new job.

© Martin J Saxton 2005