the carolers

everywhere we sat, the carolers followed
to sing into your face
to sing into the side of your head
to sing and sing about snow falling 
on the baby jesus.
someone at the brewery had decided
it would be an amenity
to have four art students move around the taproom 
singing gustily and creating atmosphere
and boy, did they.
the atmosphere of no escape.
we sat three different places before
realizing that they too were on the move.
finally we went outside to the deserted firepit for quiet,
but guess who was finally on break.
they greeted us warmly as they approached with their beers.
i felt you tense at the sight of their smiling faces
"Oh don't worry," they assured us, and we 
laughed a little embarrassed because maybe our faces
had given us away.
but just as your shoulders unhunched they said,
"we are fast drinkers and will get right back to business
as soon as we finish these."
and then we couldn't leave because we'd been offered 
the gift of a lifetime
special for us - the lonely people at the firepit 
suffering in all that quiet with no music except 
the sweet crackle of the fire and each other's company.
The leader sat down his empty glass and picked up
a two inch binder.
"So, what would you like to hear?"
The sound of your retreating footsteps?
Your eyes were so big and strained that it was the
moment I realized that an introvert really is different 
from an extrovert.
I don't remember what they sang, just that it was long
and they sang in that fancy professional way no 
commoners can join in.
And they didn't want us to join them anyway.
this was a gift.
No one inside was receiving such a treasure.
I mean, except us, when we'd been inside ten minutes ago.
As they finished the last clear bright note,
he said, "We are thinking about also doing weddings and parties.  I think there's a big gap that needs filling."
"Mmmm" you murmured swiping your hand across
your sweaty upper lip.
We thanked them and referenced restrooms.
As we got back inside and sat down, me laughing,
you recovering,
I didn't have the heart to tell you that out of the corner
of my eye, i could see the family behind you beckoning to the carolers and waving dollar bills.