Magpie Tales: “You Forgot Again, Horace

My latest Magpietales.blogspot.com offering. Tell me the truth, please.

You Forgot Again, Horace?

“Forgot to pay the light bill again, Horace?”

said Ruby Lynn, looking angry and grim.

“Again, again, again!” sang their three children in a chorus.

Horace replied with a look very dim.

Ruby Lynn shook her head and deemed his forgetfulness a sin.

Horace shook his head and cried, “I can’t win. I can’t win!”

“Jim Bob, your father is a dolt. When you go out to the barn, remember to take your coat.

“The oil lamp in storage, son. Go get the oil lamp before I fumble in the dark and your Dad I go after.”

“OK, Mama. Guffaw, guffaw and a hee hee! I won’t let you down, no not me.”

Ruby Lynn grumbled, the other children mumbled.

Horace just stood in the dark befuddled and yearning for a drink to be able to think.

But no Jim Bob lighted the doorway, the dark was dark as ever.

“Where is that boy? He was never my most clever, but not even he could screw up  such an endeavor.”

Ruby Lynn stomped her foot, did some snuff, and decided next time she saw him, she’d be real tough.

Poor Jim Bob meant well enough,

Out to the barn he whistled, firm was he in his mission.

“Guffaw, guffaw and a hee hee, I’ll get that lamp easy, no trouble for me.”

But he did not estimate the family cat running out of the barn door with a nearly dead rat.

Jim Bob made haste straight from the barnyard and down the street and did not stop again  for what felt like three weeks!