The Fresno Fuzzy Socks and the Chattahoochee Crocs

No-one knows precisely when the rivalry began; 
thirty-two the legend goes; eighteen or nineteen?
It's not clear, nor can it be confirmed.

Apart from once in fifty-nine
For reasons lost in time;
The Fresno Fuzzy Socks
And The Chattahoochee Crocs
Have squared off in heated competition 
every year.

The rules; written on a napkin
from the Rutabaga New Cafe, 
and framed by Fred the Frame
are simple:
Meet once a year on Labor Day
A team of five (ladies now allowed)
Last years winner host, at their expense;
the loser chooses the new challenge,
with no repeats allowed.

Once volleyball, dodgeball, baseball
And almost anything else you can do 
with a ball, bat, feet, head, and arms
Had been exhausted;
The challenges became, let's say;
somewhat bizarre.

In the heat of twenty-nineteen
Snowball fighting was, surprisingly
won by home team, Crocs.
The Fuzzy Socks not anticipating
The commandeering of Carluccio's
Ice truck for the event - nothing in the rules!

The following year the 'Socks
won blindfolded pitch and putt
but by default; when Anna May
Knocked out Birdie Blaire - sliced ball!

Sycnchonised swimming in seventy-three
That was a hoot and nearly came to blows.
A new rule was added, 
sorry, not mentioned earlier:
No competitions that require a judgment call!
More work for Fred the Frame.

The events were friendly; usually!
Oh, there was the cheating scandal
when Crocs; accused of entering a ringer;
Big Red Jock McTavish
in the toothpick tossing challenge
had to provide ID and quickly.
Thank you, Photoshop and Kinkos.

Worm charming in sixty-three went to the Fuzzy Socks
Who won again in sixty-four; Toe wrestling, 
and sixty-five for Cellphone tossing - bad call.
The Crocs finally broke their winning streak, 
when Aldon Ardy; who won Cherry pit spitting, 
became a local hero and invented
Aldons pitless cherry pies!

Embarrassments for both abound;
the Crocs lost Rolling in the Grits
and Fuzzy Socks the raisin flicking.
Yet still, they meet each and every year
passing the challenge on 
to kids and grandkids too
The Fresno Fuzzy Socks
and The Chatahoochie Crocs. 


fuzzy socks and crocs Poetry Contest; honorable mention.
Sponsored by: Francine Roberts 
Date wrote: 15-June-2021
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

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Allison Avatar
July 11, 2021 at 5:12 PM
absolutely hilarious many congrats Terry I am still smiling reading this second time through:-) hugs jan xx
Miller Avatar
July 12, 2021 at 12:59 AM
Thank you, Jan, for reading and kind comments, so glad it made you smile; I enjoyed writing a humorous piece, I can be a little dark in my writing.
Roberts Avatar
July 11, 2021 at 3:31 PM
congrats on your placement in my contest and thank you for entering
Miller Avatar
July 12, 2021 at 12:57 AM
Thank you for running the contest, and for the placement especially as I went off-piste, so to speak.
Rose  Avatar
July 2, 2021 at 4:44 AM
My God, can you tell a story like nobody's business . You are rich in history and story my friend, toppled with a big dose of talent, you got it all. Have a blessed day, Keep writing, your on a roll, :)
Miller Avatar
July 2, 2021 at 7:07 AM
You are far far too kind, have a blessed day yourself, and a big thank you!
Hankins Avatar
June 15, 2021 at 10:36 AM
A delightful poem, Terry. You have a wonderful, vivid imagination and the ability to put it on the page. I wish I could do that!
Miller Avatar
June 16, 2021 at 12:02 AM
Oh wow what a wonderful compliment, thank you so much!
Balasubramanian Avatar
June 15, 2021 at 10:12 AM
Awesome entry for the contest. Enjoyed reading. All the best for contest
Miller Avatar
June 16, 2021 at 12:03 AM
Thank you so much for the read, and the compliment.
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