Churlish Chuck

This is the tale of churlish Chuck,

A chain smoking gambler way down on his luck.

He spent the past week sleeping rough on a bench,

Thrown out by his wife when he dug his own trench.

Fired from his job for being rude to his boss,

How to fuel his addictions, he was now at a loss.

Whilst knocking back whiskey to drown out his sorrow,

He schemed up a plan he’d hatch out on the morrow.

Staggering home in the wee hours, stinking of booze,

He passed out on the bed still wearing his shoes.

First light he woke, with a pain in his head,

But remembered his plan so he crept out of bed.

He slipped out the door, his wife not to awaken,

And set about his ploy to bring home the bacon.

First stop was the bank, wallet in hand,

He withdrew his wife’s savings, all twenty grand.

Next to the store for coffee and cigarettes,

Then off to the bookie’s to lay down some bets.

A colleague at work had supplied him with tips,

The Italian Stallion, and Total Eclipse,

Arabian Prince, and Tupelo Honey,

Each forty-to-one so he bet all the money.

Not a word to his wife, he knew she’d protest,

He’d put back her savings before she’d noticed.

Back home in his armchair he grabbed the remote,

And watched all the races, his heart in his throat.

To his utter dismay they all finished last,

After spilling the beans, his wife was aghast.

Out on his ear with no chance of reprieve,

She gave him five minutes to pack up and leave.

He promised his wife he would pay it all back,

As he grabbed a few things that he shoved in a sack.

Whilst leaving he told her he’d gamble no more,

The last thing he heard was the slam of the door.

No money for digs and with all his bad traits,

His family had disowned him, along with his mates.

Out on the street with no place to stay,

He spent his first night in a urine-soaked doorway.

Moved on by the cops for being a vagrant,

He searched for a spot, a little less fragrant.

Somewhere quiet he could go when it gets dark,

So the next place he slept was a bench in the park,

Close to a lake with birch trees and willow,

A rolled up newspaper to use as a pillow.

He’d take afternoon naps where the branches were weeping,

Casting shadows on his face while he was sleeping.

The nights were so peaceful and as soon as he woke,

He’d spend the days searching for dog ends to smoke.

After a week serenaded by honking of geese,

Once more was moved on by the local police.

He decided to travel much further afield,

And left it to fate for what would be revealed.

He discovered an oasis with green hills and lush canyons,

Where he’d lay down to rest with the stars as companions.

One night as he slept, an owl started hooting,

He looked up and glimpsed a star that was shooting.

Much brighter than all other stars that were shining,

A sign from the heavens of a new silver lining.

As it vanished from view after that fleeting glance,

He wished for good fortune and just one more chance,

To fulfill his life purpose - he had unfinished business,

And above all else, he wished for forgiveness.

He fell back to sleep with fond dreams of his wife,

After all they’d been through, still the love of his life.

In the morning he woke with a clearness of vision,

He’d love to stay put but he’d made his decision.

He had to go back so he’d retrace his steps,

He packed up his blanket and personal effects.

He made his way back to the park and his bench,

Then on to the doorway with its familiar stench.

He awoke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee,

It was left on the steps with a half eaten toffee.

Whilst enjoying his breakfast he leaned back to get warmer,

And noticed something strange tucked away in a corner.

He had found the remains of a rusted metal box,

Enclosed was a pair of old rotten socks,

With a horrible odor like something had died,

But he discovered an object was wrapped up inside.

A little black notebook with antique leather binding,

Not quite the treasure he was hoping of finding.

On further inspection his heart really sank,

When he opened it up all the pages were blank.

He set it aside and reached for his cup,

But it slipped through his fingers as he picked it up.

The coffee was spilled all over the pages,

Of the notebook that hid here forgotten for ages.

He couldn’t believe he had been so careless,

And grabbed for the socks to mop up the mess.

As he wiped down the pages the coffee was smearing,

Then all of a sudden, words started appearing.

He realised what happened when he spilt his drink,

It must have been invisible ink!

Nervous and excited he began to read,

The first words he read were, “You must take heed!

You must keep your promise is that understood?

Just one more flutter then give up for good!

The horse you must bet on is Totally Irrational,

It’s running tomorrow in this year’s Grand National.

But first you need stake money, here’s where to search,

Under a bench by a weeping birch.”

He knew in his heart where he needed to go,

The bench in the park, it had to be so!

He waited ‘til nightfall and cover of darkness,

Then off he went to look under the park bench.

As he arrived at the bench he heard the town clock,

At the last stroke of midnight he saw a flat rock.

After checking to be sure that he was alone,

He got down on his knees and pried up the stone.

He dug with his hands in the soil underneath,

With growing doubt and disbelief.

But he pulled from the ground an old metal tin,

The same as the one the black book had been in.

What happened next gave him cold chills

Inside of the box a leather pouch full of bills.

He counted the loot, twenty grand to the dime,

As he finished the clock struck one more chime.

Pouch stashed in pocket he had to lay down,

Tired from his toils and not too far from town.

In the morning he head out straight for his bookie

His breakfast of champions, an old stale cookie.

But something stopped him, a promise he made,

And the money he borrowed but never repaid.

So instead to the bank and he paid it all in,

Then off home to his wife to share his big win.

She listened to his story in total amazement,

Then said, “I must pop out to go make a payment.”

She told him she loved him and to take a hot shower,

She said not to worry, she’d be back in an hour.

When she returned she told him to turn on the set,

“Let’s watch the Grand National, I just place your bet!

A hundred to one odds is what he gave me,

I know it’s a long shot but you never know, baby!”

They shouted, “They’re off!” and the race had begun,

They couldn’t believe it as they watched, one-by-one,

Every horse fell ‘cept for theirs in the rear.

They were cheering her on, saying, “Come on my Dear!”

Just one more jump and they were home and dry,

Chuck and his wife both started to cry,

Tears of happiness, love and laughter,

Chuck and his wife lived happily ever after!