Read What the Doctor Ordered Page 5

there was no sign, and oh dear, came the wail

  Without my purse and car keys I am stuck, lamented Gael

  We gathered round in consternation, trying to work out where

  And how and why the bag had gone, while Gael sighed in despair

  Then June remembered passing Dawn, a bag upon her arm

  She’s taken it mistakenly, at least it’s safe from harm.

  So rushing to the phone went Gael to try and contact Dawn

  With no reply, she asked if we knew where they could have gone

  I have no idea, cried Karen, Maureen said, nor me

  Ethel offered Gael a ride; I’m leaving presently.

  Maybe they’re at the hospital, said Mavis with a smile

  They might be seeing Margaret and stopped to chat a while

  Lynne promptly rang the hospital but no, there was no sign

  Of Dawn or Audrey. Goodness knows where they’ve been all this time.

  One by one the ladies all departed for their homes

  Leaving Gael with no alternative but wait alone

  Meanwhile Dawn and Audrey did a slow trawl round the shops

  They spied a lovely bakery and thought they’d make a stop

  They dined on tasty cream cakes, doughnuts, pies and other stuff

  Finally, regretfully, they sighed, we’ve had enough.

  They drove home by the scenic route, much prettier by far

  With not a thought for Gael with no bag or lunch or car

  Arriving home, the phone went. Audrey grabbed it on the spot

  And Dawn discovered what she’d thought was her handbag, was not

  Red-faced she drove back hastily, returning bag and keys

  So Gael in relief could pack her boxes up and leave

  There is no moral obvious to outline in this fable

  But this – make sure you watch out for the old bag at your table!

  The Tattoo

  I’m told I am quite talented artistically, it’s true

  At painting porcelain I’m quite adept

  So one day I decided to invest in a tattoo

  And to the local parlour, off I went

  The tattoo artist welcomed me and showed me his designs

  From fantasy to realistic stuff

  I duly studied everything from abstract art to signs

  Until, confused, I thought I’d seen enough

  A small pink tinted rosebud for my buttocks held appeal

  As did a flight of doves around my navel

  The artist asked my preference and we shook hands on the deal

  I smiled at him and climbed up on the table

  I remembered all the medical procedures I’ve endured

  Convinced I am the subject of a curse

  Despite assurance that I’ll almost certainly be cured

  The outcome is invariably worse

  And so instead of flowers or birds I made a small concession

  I bared my belly and had written there

  A cautionary notice for the medical profession

  Extremely Fragile. Handle With Great Care.

  The Telephone

  Does anyone else feel frustration and hate

  When you phone up a business? A voice says Please wait

  A machine plays you music, metallic and strange

  You sit through six verses of Home on The Range

  Then a sweet soothing voice interrupts with a coo

  To say you are number nineteen in the queue

  Grinding your teeth in frustration you swear

  It would be a lot faster to drive over there

  The music continues, the beat loud and strong

  As a male voice choir bursts into a song

  A crackle of static announces in glee

  Like a racehorse, you’ve moved into place number three

  Another ten minutes with Elvis you pass

  The receptionist comes to the rescue at last

  You gasp out your troubles but only to find

  That help is the last thing she has on her mind

  Press one of these buttons she gives you a choice

  Passing you on to the next answering voice

  This one is foreign, not English at all

  Frustrated you pound with your fist on the wall

  The outlandish babbling continues and then

  You’re switched onto Home on The Range once again

  Your blood pressure level grows higher and higher

  When comes a recording of Handel’s Messiah

  At last with a click your call is put through

  A real live person says May I help you?

  You start to reply, realise with dismay

  You’ve forgotten whatever you rang up to say

  The Woman Driver

  I am a woman driver

  Of this I’m not ashamed

  Although I feel that as a group

  We are unfairly blamed

  Our brains are differently designed

  And please don’t scoff, it’s true

  But when they gave directions out

  I wasn’t in the queue

  I cannot turn a trailer round

  Or back it through a gate

  I cannot overtake a truck

  Or steer a tractor straight

  When it comes to parking

  I’m the first one to admit

  That in the allocated space

  My car just will not fit

  I cannot read a road map

  And I cannot navigate

  I hit road signs and lamposts

  That fail to indicate

  I collide with stationary cars

  That drive along too fast

  I do not drive to win a race

  I’m happy to be last

  I crawl up hills with caution

  And brake at every bend

  I slow down unexpectedly

  To wave out to a friend

  I know I’m good at driving

  And I like to make this clear

  When travelling as a passenger

  I call out from the rear

  Don’t stop – you need to indicate!

  You should be slowing down!

  Watch out for that yellow car!

  The map is upside down!

  Turn right, no left, that’s right.

  That’s wrong! I meant the other side!

  Look out! There is a pottery

  With room to park outside!

  I think this is a one way street!

  We need to turn round here

  Or maybe there. Why are you stopping?

  What’s the matter dear?

  I wish you’d drive more carefully

  I’m sure it isn’t far

  What’s that oily rag for, darling?

  What are you doing? Argh!

 
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