Madge
Arms akimbo Madge waltzed in
Marched right up to the counter
She’d been there before
Mrs James she said
You’ve got me down for 10
Had such a busy morning myself
Madge announced
As she proceeded to squeeze into the dainty corner chair
Surveying the room she called out
What’s your name luv
To the little girl playing by her mum
What’s making you so sad today?
Reaching into her bag Madge pulled out
A snickers and cartoon book
Here we go
That might cheer you up
I saw Madge a number of times
Always the same, same dainty chair
Same bag, same supplies
Her eyes scanning for ‘just the one’
Somehow she knew
Turned out Madge knew more than just
Who to shower her kindness on
For she had been told her days
Were numbered
My Gran said
All our days are numbered
She just knew how to spend them wisely
Thank you Madge
Now when I sit with my Gran as we often find ourselves doing
Sitting and waiting
I reach into my bag, eyes scanning for ‘just the one’
So should you see me
Give me a wink and I’ll know you know what I’m up to
Bob
Everyone likes Bob
The salt of the earth
Retired farmer
Now as familiar with the couch
As the tractor seat
He only came in on a Friday
Insisted he was doing the doc
A favour
And that was that
No-nonsense type of chap
It’s amazing how for a
Man of few words
The sun shone
From his eyes
As blue as the Aussie skies
He’s long studied
Not one to read
He’d whistle
Quietly to himself
So as no-one could hear
But of course we all could
Without looking his way
I’d count how long
Before
His catchy tune
Multiplied
Quietly of course
So as no-one can hear
One day
The whole waiting room
Echoed
A whistle here
A whistle there
His catchy little tune
Grew
And of course
Always quietly
So as no-one could hear
Everyone loved Bob
The waiting rooms the place to be
They’d say
Benita
Always on time
Was Benita
Bringing the smell
Of freshly baked bread
Hidden in a wicker basket
That hinged open
Like wings
Revealing
Tasty treats
Only 2 dollars a pop
She would walk through
The waiting rooms
Plying her wares
A bargain at hand
Over and over again
The sound of coins
Benita
Always beaming
The smiles for free
She would say
No matter how weary
She may have been
The smell of
Fresh bread
Brought life
To the rooms
And smiles
To faces
Not quite sure what it did
To waistlines
But really
Who cares?
I’ll take two
The smiles for free
