behind the curtain

for lunch
you stop by
the grocery store
and fill up
a styro foam tray
full of chicken
and mashed potatoes.
green beans
floating in a tin
trough.
the woman behind
the other side
of the steam curtain
is wearing a hair
net and a red blotched
apron.
she is neither smiling,
or non smiling
at you, as you ladle
what you want
into your box.
she only wants to
know how much more
she needs to
cook.