This story was written after I attended a meeting of a local charity. This group struggled with the problem of giving money to an organization where new people with different ideas might join the group and alter the mission. New ideas are sometimes delicious.
WHOSYNUT NEWSEED
The Whosynut Council was gathered together.
Ms Whosynut Mouse brought the meeting to order.
She called on the Whosynuts, “Here,” they all answered,
Sue Whosynut, Sally, Scintill and Samantha.
—
At the name of Sage Whosynut a voice said, “Not here.”
All eyes of the council stared at the mouse at the rear.
“Grandma Sage can’t come and sent me instead.
I’m Lil Newseed. I come from out in the shed.”
—
Ms Whosynut leaned to Sue Whosynut, VP.
“What should we do? This Lil looks different from me.
Her ear is too floppy and those whiskers too glum.
But we’re five and she’s one, so what harm can be done?”
—
Ms Whosynut said to Lil with her sweetest voice,
“We’re delighted to have you. You’re welcome of course.
Now down to work, down to business at hand.
Our council must work on the Whosynut Dance Plan.”
—
“The dance will be held upstairs in our tree.
Two weeks from last Friday on December three.
The music will start precisely at five.
It will be mostly pop with a smidgen of jive.”
—
“We’ll serve dessert just like each year before.
We need some suggestions, so I’ll open the floor.”
“Pecans,” said Samantha. “And Pistachios, too”
“Hickories, Peanuts and Walnuts,” said Sue.
—
Sally suggested Acorns. “Cashews,” said Scintil.
Then there was silence as they waited for Lil.
“Out in the shed our desserts are quite varied.
We like nuts, too, but we often eat berries.”
—
“Berries!” snarled Ms. Whosynut. “Too mushy and soft.
We’ll only have nuts. They are stored in the loft.
I’ve worked hard all fall to store them away.
I’ve given them with love to be served as I say.”
—
“Nuts are good,” Lil offered, “but try my blueberry.
It’s new, but it’s sweet. Or you might like raspberry.”
Ms. Whosynut rose and glared at poor Lil.
“We’re Whosynuts here and we’ve nuts in our till”
—
“We’ve always had nuts and I’ve given my share.
We’ll only eat nuts. Do I make myself clear?”
Ms. Whosynut hoisted her skirt with a sniff
and she stomped from the Council room all in a tiff.
—
Lil looked at the Whosynuts left in the room.
She picked a fat blueberry and rolled it to Sue.
Sue bit through the blue skin and into soft pink.
“Delicious,” she declared. “We’ll serve it I think.”
—
The Whosynut Newseed Dance is held every season.
The Whosynut to Newseed count on the Council is even.
Ms. Whosynut still sits on her large stack of nuts.
But there’s plenty for the dancers who’ll eat berries and such.