Please Consider Those Who - Not By Choice - Are Living Alone - 2nd Third
This is the 2nd THIRD of my 3-part poem - see Mark Stellinga on Poetry Soup for the other 2 THIRDS - couldn't be helped.
“What about neighbors,” I carefully pried...“do any of them check on you once in a while?”
“Sometimes - on Sundays - the preacher ‘ll call,” she quipped, with a handkerchief hiding her smile.
“What are you doing for food?” I inquired. “Who mows the grass...and who does your walk when it snows?”
“The church does the lawn and the sidewalk,” she said, “and every so often I walk down to Joe’s,
“Just down the street, for the groceries I need. It’s close, and believe me...I’m eating just fine.”
She was a bit chubby...as many moms are...and began - in a way….to remind me - of mine!
Her eyes, once again, filled with tears when I told her, “My mom lost her battle with cancer
Back in July - and it’s left me with questions...some better left for a “Mother” to answer…
“So I was just wond‘ring,” I started my ploy...“and remember...it’s just a proposal.
Wha’da’ya’ say to an even exchange...like, say…me…...being at your disposal
“Two or three evenings a week - and on weekends...provided I haven’t got classes...
For you -- cooking meals -- on the days that I’m here?” She leaned back and pulled off her glasses.
“You mean...you’ll come around when I’m needing some help with a project...or something goes wrong...
If I’ll cook a meal --- when you do --- for the two of us?” Making her decision didn’t take her too long!
Throwing her arms in the air for a hug - still weeping...I raced to her side to comply.
Her obvious answer - the one that I’d hoped for - was easily enough to make both of us cry.
“I’ve got another idea,” I went on, “I think we should get you a little -- diversion?
Like, maybe...a cute little Yorkshire puppy...or a calico kitten...or maybe a Persian?
“I’m kinda partial to dogs,” I continued, “and I’ve got this friend at the pet shop in town
Who’ll sell me a Yorkie -- a 10-week-old female -- for three hundred dollars, with twenty bucks down,
“Then ten bucks a month ‘til she’s paid for in full. Ya’ don’t get a bargain like that every day!
The place where I live allows gerbils and birds, but ask about gettin’ a dog and they’ll say,
“’You get a dog and you’ll have to move out!’ So wha’da’ya’ say? I’ll do the buying of course.
They’re devoted, and loving...and unlike the breeds that’ll grow to the size of a horse,
“They rarely get bigger than three or four pounds. So, tell me...what’s not to like about that?
“How about you - get the Yorkie - for you,” she threw me a curve,..“and I’ll get the calico cat?
“I sold some glassware at auction last summer, and some of it went for a pretty strong price.
The Yorkie will guard me...at least once she’s grown...and the cat, before long, ‘ll be roustin’ out mice!”
“Sounds like a plan,” I replied...“but, of course, you’ll bear the expense of raising the pair,
So I’m gonna pay for the calico, too...and cover the costs of their shots...that’s only fair!
Now...knowing cosmetics as pricey as mine were likely a stretch for a gal of her means,
I began plotting on how I could give her a gift that was right for -- a girl in her teens.
Something her grandchild would definitely like. No matter the value...it had to be nice.
“Anything I carry is yours for the asking, my dear,” I began...“anything...regardless the price!”
“I can’t let you do that,” she earnestly countered. “I’ve only just met you. You’re being too kind.
I’m certain, by Christmas, I’ll scrounge up a doo-dad that Carly will like, so just...never you mind!”
Well...not far away, on a small roll-top desk, sat a badly chipped inkwell, missing its lid.
My dad, for a while, had collected the rare ones, and, back at that time...I believed he still did.
“I’d like you to sell me that inkwell, Nadine...I’m thinkin’ it’s worth around fifty or so.”
I didn’t mention the lid being gone, and I hoped, at that price...which was certainly not low...
I’d manage to whip up a round-about way to endow her with something expensive - for free!
My plan was to give her whatever she picked in exchange for the worthless old inkwell, you see!
Whatever she chose wouldn’t cost her a dime...‘cause the worth of the inkwell was virtually nil!
“I’m guessin’ yer pullin’ a fast one,” she said...“but it seems like a bargain to me - so I will!”
I’d shown her my samples for close to three hours by the time I was closing my case,
And the last thing I witnessed when closing the door was the smile on her delicate face.
The bottle of perfume she’d taken in trade - which I knew she intended to give as a gift -
Would probably satisfy Carly, I thought, and...hopefully...diminish the depth of their rift.
Feeling an urge to discuss our transaction, I called...and just hearing her meek little voice
Lifted my spirit and brightened my day...so - crossing my fingers...I offered this choice:
“If a I ship it, Nadine, it’ll come in a box with return address - James R. McFurson,
But if you’d prefer - I’d be perfectly happy - to deliver your purchase in person.”
“That would be wonderful,” Nadine replied, “How about tomorrow? I’ll bake us a pie.”
“Sounds like a plan, dear, I’ll be there by five,”...then gave her a wink as I bid her goodbye.
The pie was fantastic...and I gotta tell ya’...as sure as I’m sittin’ here, penning this verse...
Every so often I’d sneak a few dollars - (to help with the groceries) - into her purse.
For so many years - with all that she taught me - she’s been such an integral part of my life.
Dan couldn’t ‘ve had him a mom that was better...and Dale couldn’t ‘ve had him a more perfect wife!
More than a decade’s now - over the dam...and most every Sunday I’ll stop...rain or shine...
And look for a project to earn me a meal, in one of my favorite places to dine!
“We like the same movies...we like the same songs...I’m so glad we met..she’s a sweetheart for sure,
And together we’ve proved that - “Love” - unconditional - is always required to make friendships endure.
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