Old Police Reception
 
 

A man arrives at an office
hugging a light box with both arms

Seeing the guy walking towards her,
the young receptionist bats her lashes
flirtatiously at the stranger
Just then, the phone rings
and she gets occupied with the call.

A fifty year old blonde office clerk
passing by the receptionist's desk
stops in her tracks
Eyes popping out of her head
digging into him with suspicion
Frisks his soul like the 60's police
His smile evaporates into bafflement

He only wanted to
leave a surprise gift box
with the 13th floor receptionist,
on valentine's day
for his new girlfriend
who's out of the office
for a few hours

The old lady must have perceived
the tall, dark,handsome fella
as a middle-eastern man:
"what you got in that box
is it safe
well you can't leave that here
Is it ticking"
 

(by Fazeel Azeez Chauhan)
2-14-02