Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Shelved
“When you want something, Mom, just ring the bell.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier if I just called for you? Ringing a bell seems a little Downton Abbey to me.”
“I don’t like being yelled at, remember, Mom? Remember when you used to read that poem to us?”
Don’t yell at me! Don’t yell at me!
I’ll crawl away and hide.
I’ll detonate to smithereens or shrivel up inside.
Feel free to thumb your nose at me,
Or wiggle all your toes at me,
Or even ring a bell at me,
but please, please please,
DON’T YELL AT ME!
“I can’t believe you remember that poem. Good grief, Henry, that was centuries ago that we read that. Besides, it’s a kids poem – a little kid being yelled at by an adult. That’s not the same thing as me calling down the stairs for a glass of water. I’m not ringing a bell. That’s crazy.”
“Suit yourself, Mom. No bell, no service. It’s my turn to do things my way. Here, why don’t I just put the bell up on this shelf. So you can see it from over there. Anything in the way, Mom? Do you want me to move your oxygen tank over so you can get a better view? There. That’s perfect.”
_________________
“Don’t Yell at Me,” by Jack Prelutsky, Something Big Has Happened Here, Greenwillow Books, New York, New York, 1990.
Written in response to a Write on Edge prompt: A bell is a cup until it is struck.
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Snow Door | wisconsinacademy.org
Listen to Jan read her essay “Billy” presented on WUWM’s Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “At the Breakfast Bar” on WUWM Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “The Parish Hall,” on WUWM Lake Effect
“Fury Cannot Touch Me,” Modern Love, NYT, 9/29/11
There needs to be a “love” button – more than “like”.
The nurse is thinking that putting the bell on a shelve is a sure way to have a fall problem. Never can turn off the fall alert!
Reblogged this on Red's Wrap.
You are on a roll… I’m inspired.
Thanks Steph. I’m starting to get comfortable with the 100 Essays thing. It’s been a good exercise so far.
Oh my gosh, Jack Prelutsky! That brings back so many memories of laughter, thank you 🙂 I can completely see my son this way in 30 years, well captured.
Thanks! I remember this one because my kids used to recite it a lot (I wonder why :)).
I like showing the transition from childhood to adulthood and taking care of an elderly parent. I’d never heard that poem before, but I like it. Thanks for sharing!