One Hard Pea

“She’s let me down again Clare Cox” the ‘missus’ fumed about her wayward aid.
Now with the job to do upon her own. For other arrangements have been made.
“You’re helping me today” she pointed “And I don’t want any spiels”.
“Fair go” I replied, “I don’t know nothing, about serving meals on wheels”.

Well I soon learnt I tell you, the wife’s anger soon did heal
When I carried in the soups and sweets. She took in the midday meal.
We propped at all the diner’s homes, where the folks would say g’day.
Most were ‘oldies’ that I rarely saw, but I knew them anyway.

The ‘missus’ ‘neath her breath, gave out a groan “Prepare for this old one.
She’s a flamin’ whingeing ‘battle axe’, which can’t be pleased by anyone,
It doesn’t matter what we do, she will grumble and abuse,
If it’s not about the food we bring, it’s dirt upon our shoes”.

“Who’s that?” I heard sarcastically. The ‘missus’ gave an enforced grin.
“Why Aggie he’s my husband”…“Does he know what he’s doing?
He better not be like Clare Cox, that ‘tart’ tried to choke me”.
Aggie put a plate upon the table that held one solitary pea.

“Look at this!” She pointed, to the shrivelled up hard pea.
“How could anyone eat that, it’s like a rock as you can see”.
I picked the pea up off the plate, rolled it ‘round my mouth a mite.
Gripping the pea between my teeth, I found it way too hard to bite.

“You’re right you know” I grinned at Aggie. Still the scowl wore on her face.
I tied to humour her a bit, when I said, “You have a case,
I’ll take it to a lawyer, he’ll sue the council for your pea”… 
“Well don’t forget to say,” she said…“It’s already been through me”.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Callus Avatar
October 10, 2015 at 5:09 PM
Ha! Ha! You never miss a twist, Lindsay!:) Great narrative, once again! Thanks for the fun:) // paul
Laurie Avatar
October 19, 2015 at 7:41 PM
And thank you once again Paul for putting up a kind comment - Lindsay
Beaufort Avatar
October 4, 2015 at 8:36 AM
OMG, yuck! Well, this is what happens when we are enlisted to help and then try real hard to provide some humor. I don't really want to think about this too much. There are some very expensive coffee beans in this category, but I have not sampled them.
Laurie Avatar
October 10, 2015 at 2:14 AM
Hello Duke... yes, civets are used but now in Thailand elephants are the go and the women get to sort out the beans. I'm not a big coffee drinker thank God - Lindsay
Allison Avatar
October 3, 2015 at 6:30 PM
ha ha ha love the twist at the end reminds me of mum working at a care home old fella always used to have a pot of brazil nuts for the staff - he'd sucked the chocolate off them lol:-) hugs jan xx
Laurie Avatar
October 10, 2015 at 2:10 AM
Ha-ha-ha-ha-eke... I've just been eating brazil nuts - thanks Jan - Lindsay
Pinet Avatar
October 1, 2015 at 7:24 PM
Now you went and done it...you made me laugh out loud! That was funny, and just human enough to be easily relatable, Your words where enchanting and you pulled off a great bit of poetry at the expense of your bruised dignity. Emile.
Laurie Avatar
October 10, 2015 at 2:08 AM
G'day Emile... its very easy to imagine this happening. Thank you for your kind comment Emile - Lindsay
La France Avatar
September 26, 2015 at 2:17 PM
Lindsay, I so enjoyed reading this delightful poem, we have Meals on Wheels here in my city for the elderly and sick at home and I can image there are some sour customers, "7" and thanks for visiting my poem, up to the sky . . .
Laurie Avatar
October 10, 2015 at 1:28 AM
Hello BW... I think they're tired and that makes them a bit cranky as you probably know, and BW, its a pleasure to visit your work - Lindsay
Cwiak Avatar
September 26, 2015 at 2:40 AM
What a great way to spend the day...feeding them, taking the abuse, and then writing about the day. I love the twist in the last line! Great write...A 7
Laurie Avatar
October 10, 2015 at 1:25 AM
G'day Dan... you've nailed it Dan apart from eating a leftover - thanks Dan - Lindsay
Nunez Avatar
September 26, 2015 at 2:24 AM
Ugh again! :-)
Laurie Avatar
October 10, 2015 at 1:23 AM
Hello Kim... do you drink that coffee that involves civets. Now that's expensive and it works on the same principle - thanks Kim, catch you soon - Lindsay
Dietrich Avatar
September 25, 2015 at 9:26 PM
You are such a card, my friend. How many tales do you have in you? I hope they never end!!
Laurie Avatar
October 10, 2015 at 1:19 AM
Hi Andrea... there's a few more in the pipeline yet Andrea - Lindsay
Woods    Avatar
September 25, 2015 at 8:06 PM
Another lovely cringe at the end, you've delivered a fine tale once again.
Laurie Avatar
October 10, 2015 at 1:18 AM
G'day Mark... meals on wheels is even becoming a health hazard. When will it end - thanks mate - Lindsay
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