Twas time to pay the bills after Christmas

DEAR EDITOR:

‘Twas a month after Christmas and all through house

Not a creature was stirring, not even that mouse

All the stockings were empty and folded with care

So, we knew that Saint Nick had really been there

With ribbons and wrappings all crumpled and torn

The living room looked, quite messy, forlorn

The children were nestled upstairs in their beds

With visions of next Christmas, alive in their heads

While mamma lay worrying and papa did too

Wondering ‘bout the bills and what they could do

With visons of Visa, Mastercard and the rest

Swirling ‘ round and threatening their warm little nest

When at the front door there rose much chatter

Papa sprang from his chair to see what’s the matter

Fell over the nightstand, an’ lit with a crash

Threw open the door and found, in a flash The bailiff stood there with a summons in hand

It wasn’t an invite to a concert or band He wanted some money or the goods that we’d bought

Mom and me were frightened, and very distraught

By the light of the moon we spotted his badge

“Pay up now, or I’ll take Tom, Dick and Madge”

Before Christmas we spent, like this day wouldn’t come

Now, what could we do, ‘twas too late to run.

Out there in the drive stood a little old truck

With little old helpers named Jerry and Chuck

We sat at the table and wrote out a cheque Not thinking when cashed, we’d really get heck

The bailiff, he snatched our cheque with a jerk,

Turned ‘round, tipped his hat and was off with a smirk

Our gifts were all safe, needn’t worry an ounce

But, we knew he’d be back when the cheque it did bounce

He sprang to the truck, to his team gave a shout

And away they all bounced like a geezer with gout

I heard him exclaim as he drove down the track

“If this thing, it should bounce, you know I’ll be back.”

William S. Peckham and Lynn Vaughan,

Kelowna