TheBanyanTree: Bah! Humbug!

[John Bailey]

Monday October 13, 2003

BAH! HUMBUG!

Four or five young teenagers piped up merrily as I opened the door this 
evening:  "We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas..."

My reaction was to laugh, of course. Genuinely, because I found it really 
funny.

"Hang on a sec'," I said, and pulled the door to while I went to fetch my 
coin purse. The singing continued. They actually knew all the words. And 
the tune.

"There," I said, plonking a pound into the outstretched palm of the 
ringleader. "That's for your cheek. It's not Christmas yet."

"It soon will be," returned one of the others. "It's only about four weeks."

"Oh, I think you need to check your arithmetic on that.  Now, don't try and 
catch me out again until it really is Christmas."

"Thanks!" they said.  And, "Goodnight!"

Standing at the window, I watched them march off to the next house, well 
pleased with their booty.

"How much did you give them?" Graham asked.

"A quid."

"That seems a trifle excessive."

"Nah. They gave me a good laugh, and that's worth a quid, Christmas or not."

"Hmmph."

"Don't you mean 'Bah! Humbug!'?"


--
John Bailey   Carmarthenshire, Wales
journal of a writing man
<http://www.oldgreypoet.com>