Entrepreneur

Five years old and filled with life Not scared of a blasted thing And not content to while away Summer days upon a swing. So sneaking very carefully To Daddy's tackle box out back Then slipping out his largest knife Hid well behind my back. I made my way to the fishin' dock Where the old men spent their days And pulled an old crate to the sink Climbed up and then did say: "I'll clean your fish for a nickel each!" They laughed and looked away... So I shouted then and there so loud "A nickel! Won't you pay?" They looked upon this tiny child Standing tall upon my box With a knife as big as an ol' boat oar And a toss of my golden locks. "Honey, you get down from there... And put that knife away... Fish-cleanin's not for little girls... Go on now - go and play." But I stood my ground that summer day And stayed there by that sink And smiled a dimpled smile to them Til one man gave a wink And he brought to me a tiny perch Not big enough to eat... I repeated then and there my price "Up front, Sir, if you please." He laughed and paid my nickel And I turned back to the sink And cleaned that fish with that big knife And returned to him his wink. Then one-by-one they brought their fish And I cleaned them - every one My pocket filled with nickels And my glow rivaled the sun. Then it was time for me to go Back home lest I be caught By Daddy lookin' for this child And finding me for naught. I slipped the knife back in the box And hid my nickels well Then went back to the garden swing Til I heard the dinner bell. As I dined upon my soup that night (It was chicken in my dish.) I heard my Mother asking Daddy "Dear, Do you smell fish?" Written November 1st, 1998 © on Nov 18 2001 04:04 AM PST   18 • 0 • 14