Purple Shirt Jingle
Often I find myself spinning nonsensical rhyming yarns that originate from real life occurrences. While the actual story in this case is totally fiction, there are definite resemblances to our family life. My son does have a penchant for cutting up perfectly good fabric and my husband frequently leaves wads of lint on top of the dryer. There usually is an explosion of clothing on top of the dryer or the deep freezer at any given time.
This morning my husband asked where to find the shirt I wanted him to iron (I love it when he behaves domestically). I replied in song, “on top of the dryer all covered with clothes,” the beginning of a jingle I couldn’t shake. I share it, hoping that somewhere in the world another mother can relate and smile.
To the tune, “On Top of Old Smoky”
On top of the dryer all covered with clothes,
Where my purple shirt lay, still nobody knows.
I sifted through tube socks and red Underoos,
Then threw off the Levi’s and gray tennis shoes.
I thought I had spied it, then my hope was spent;
‘Twas merely a lint ball from my dryer vent.
I went to the trash can, the lint to discard
And what I saw next was for me very hard.
There nested in garbage my favorite shirt lay –
My son had made mischief with scissors that day.
He’d craftily cut it with my pinking shears;
I vowed I would find him and box in his ears.
But first I went shopping, a task I abhor,
To try on new clothing, a terrible chore.
I drove to the stuff mart that’s just down the road
And parked in the lot where the “K” brightly glowed.
They had no more purple, I’d have to make due;
A new cabled sweater in robin’s egg blue.
I went to the storefront, was second in line;
Then paid with my Visa, just $12.99.
With my blue light special, I drove myself home,
But not before stopping for coffee with foam.
My spouse saw the sweater and sighed with content.
He’d never liked purple, he had to repent.
He’d helped with the cutting and called to the store,
They’d hid all the purple so I couldn’t score.
At first I was angry, but shortly did see
He’d cleverly planned it, the laugh was on me.
