The Watermelon Thieves

THE WATERMELON THIEVES Once when I was oh so young, My mom decided she, Would show us where some melons grew, Beneath some large orange trees. A farmer man she knew of, Grew them there she said, So folks would leave alone the fruit, That grew above their head. The melons were okay to take. Just let the oranges be, So off we went to pick some, My mom, my sis and me. I was only five years old, So I sat in the car, With Mama's friend who drove us there, No light from moon or stars; Because the orange trees blocked their light, And I was sore afraid, Because it was so dark in there, Hidden in the glade. Suddenly I saw my mom, Running like the wind, Right behind her came my sis, A melon 'neath each limb. Then in a flash my mom went down, She tripped and broke her melons. "Run Ruth, Run!" I heard her say, They're runnin' and they're yellin'. Mother! Wait! I heard Sis call, For she had gone down too, Stepped in a rotten one and fell, They both were in a stew. A flashlight beam then pierced the dark, They made the car just barely; And we took off just like a shot, Took out the fence gate squarely. We made it back home just past one. They laughed until they cried. I was so young I just sat there, Agape with my eyes wide. My mother had skinned both her shins, My sister, she smelled funny, Because that melon she stepped in, Was rotten and real funky. Some thought my mom as mothers go, Not what you'd call high scoring, But I can tell you life back home, For sure was never boring. Judy Ball FOR NATHAN D.'s - LET'S PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE CONTEST