Life’s Unexplained Mysteries

As if the memory isn’t bad enough
alone, you’ve put things down in
places known or unknown and cannot
find them – and now we’ve got an
errant mobile phone! The bloody thing’s
just up and walked away; there is no easy
explanation; and of course it’s off so
dialling it won’t give a clue to where
it’s at, tho’ 'tisn’t lost, it will be found, oh
yes, I’m patiently assured of that.

I was supposed to pay a bill of late,
we both agreed on what was owed, at
any rate the $45 sounds ‘bout right.
But I’m delivery man, financial matters
beyond my limited command, I let it lie.
The mystery is that I’m to blame for lack
of diligence. It seems the fault is mine
because I wasn’t quick enough to say,
hand me the necessary, I’m off to have
a beer with Mick and pay him his money.

Your Honour, I was supposed to make the
trip on the afternoon in question when I’d
imbibed one or six beers too many. Sadly,
whichever came first. We suffer a terrible
thirst because of the drought, ever-present
heat, a failing memory, or doubt about the
exact nature of my delivery status because
she didn’t hand me the money, suggesting
I go and have that well-earned beer with
Mick – and mention I had to pay him.
© I.D. Carswell 2006