Consider now that bitter tale
About the missing horseshoe nail
What brought about a kingdom’s fall
Which matters not to me at all
Because I never ride a horse
And this means that I walk of course
And I’m reminded when I walk
I got a hole in my left sock…Monroe D. Underwood
I heard Brandy come in.
I felt her sit on the edge of the bed.
I lifted the pillow from my head.
I opened one eye.
Radish River Friday sunshine was blasting into the room like a rocket attack.
I looked at Brandy’s tiny alarm dock.
It sounded like a pile driver.
It said ten minutes after twelve.
I put the pillow back on my head.
Brandy took it off.
She was wearing her brown robe.
There was a white ribbon in her thick dark wavy hair.
She smiled her wonderfully warm smile.
In her soft husky-sweet voice she said good-morning.
She said almost.
I said you’re beautiful.
I said go away.
Brandy said Purdue I’ll never go away.
She said not for very long.
I said that’s how it seems to be working out.
Brandy said how do you feel?
I shrugged.
I said if I told you how I feel I’d spoil your day.
I said I thought you were going to wake me up when you came in last night.
Brandy said last night you would have slept through the Battle of Midway.
I said ah ha!
I said that explains it.
I said I swallowed an aircraft carrier.
Brandy said besides I didn’t get in until nearly dawn.
I said you and Sir Lennox must have been doing some serious drinking.
Brandy said no I got rid of Sir Lennox in a hurry.
She said he travels the fastest who travels alone.
She said Kipling.
I said Tinker to Evers to Chance.
I said Adams.
Brandy said John or John Quincy?
I shrugged.
Brandy said get up and come into the kitchen for coffee.
She said I want to talk to you about the situation in Radish River.
She said this little town is coming to a boil.
She said by kickoff time tomorrow night the lid may blow off.
I said Radish River never had a lid.
I said we should go home and let Doctor Ho Ho Ho have it.
Brandy said Purdue Radish River is like the horseshoe nail.
She said if we lose it the kingdom goes down the drain.
I said yeah how did that go?
Brandy said no matter.
I said for want of a nail the shoe was lost.
Brandy said yes.
She said Purdue we aren’t whipped yet.
I said for want of a shoe the horse was lost.
Brandy said I’m going to play a long shot.
I said this wasn’t a racehorse Brandy.
I said it was a horse that carried a rider to battle.
Brandy said perhaps we can still turn the tables on Ho Ho Ho.
I said they lost the battle on account of this rider didn’t show up.
I said he couldn’t get there without his horse you see.
Brandy nodded.
She said Purdue you’ll never learn will you?
She reached for the belt of her robe.
I sat up.
I said look Brandy why don’t we go into the kitchen and have coffee?
I said I’m anxious to hear about the situation in Radish River.