Gretchen

The new employee's name was Gretchen.
She was a waitress in the kitchen
of a large and plush hotel
with a moneyed clientel,
where very rich spent idle days
and meals were served on silver trays.

Head waiter said, "Now listen Gretchen,
two piles of trays are in the kitchen."
"Take the meals in on an in tray,
take used plates out upon an out tray,
a simple yet effective plan
so do observe it if you can."

Gretchen's english wasn't good,
she gave a nod to say she would
but didn't really understand
the effectiveness he'd planned.

She placed a an entree on a tray
and hesitantly made her way
with tray and entree on a platter,
through the hum and buzz of chatter,
that faded suddenly and died
as Gretchen made her way inside.

She looked around in consternation
at the lack of conversation.
Perhaps, she thought, in some distress,
"I haff not today put on a dress",
but glancing down she saw that she,
was clad in all propriety.

Head waiter danced in like a dervish,
screamed, "Gretchen!! - where's the silver service?"
"You've got that entree on an out tray,
entrees on out trays are an outrage,
entrees must always be on in trays,
that tray is plainly one that's out,
of that there's not the slightest doubt,
so take that out tray back within
and put that entree on an in,
take in the entree on the in tray,
surely that is elementary."

Now Gretchen was a proud young miss,
no one talked to her like this,
and with an Amazonian roar,
she felled that waiter to the floor.
"In tray, out tray, what you say,
they eat the entree not the tray."

She took the entree from the out tray
and put it on a silver in tray.
Said with a wide, malicious grin,
"Would you like it out or in?"
then didn't stop to ask him if,
he would like a little fish,
but stuffed a piece of Lemon Sole
well into right and left ear hole.

"More if you want it sir of course,
do help yourself to Tartare sauce."
And then, as though she thought this frugal,
pressed on him some Apple Strudel,
a helping of a Mixed Fruit Muesli,
followed by Vanilla Souffle.
Just when he thought that it was over,
She capped it off with Creamed Pavlova.

She wiped her hands, spat on the floor
and strode off proudly through the door.