The car

The car

27 June 2020

15:35

He had bought the car from new

He was able to drive before licenses were introduced

It was his pride and joy

Kept him mobile in his retirement years

 

He was taken to hospital

On one visit

He pulled me close

"My car" he said

 

When I can't drive it any more

Give it to Chris

Don't let that Frank have it

He'll just sell it for what he can get

 

He is a nasty grabbing B-----

Just mind he doesn't get hold of it

Take the logbook home with you

Mind what I say

 

Its Ok

I don't like or trust Frank

I also know how to immobilise one

It will take me minutes to do and take him hours to find out what I have done

 

Time came round

Jack passed away

We went down

Chris on his motorbike

 

Following the funeral

Frank sidled up

Have you got a fiver

I have a tenner

Ill take the car for a fiver

 

It belongs to Chris now

He can't drive

He takes his test tomorrow

He wont pass I'll just take it for free tomorrow

He has a pilot license

He still won't pass

I'll take it now

 

We put the car in the garage

I removed the rotor arm

The snap on plug tops

Disconnected the battery

Closed and locked the garage door

 

On return frank came round

I'll arrange for the car to be towed away

We are taking it home tomorrow

It won't B---- start

 

Aye is a bit temperamental

The battery ifs flat it B---d

Aye well

You don't know much about cars do you

 

Next morning replaced plug tops, rotor arm

Connected the battery

Zrooom

We drove home in convoy

 

He enjoyed his car

But he said it was grandads car

Later that changed

To Grandmas car

 

He enjoyed driving it

Taking grandma with him

Where ever she wanted to

He was there waiting to take her

 

Air shows

Gardens

Sea side

Days out wherever

 

The car became tired and wanted lots of work

It was traded in for a new one

Now this was grandmas car

The trade value had been good

 

Grandma passed on

He wanted a new one

Another trade in

He keeps his car

 

Just as spick and span

As grandad

Had taught him

All those years before

 

Wild Rose

June 2020

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Just goes to show the importance of making your wishes known before you kick the bucket Wild Rose. The safest way to do that is to leave a will. A splendid effort here to ensure that the car went where it was supposed to go to and not to someone who thought they were entitled. You hear about it all the time, family disputing the deceased's estate. Sort of sickening isn't it? Hope all is good up there and you aren't being inundated with visitors spoiling your lovely lakesides.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

I never did trust uncle Frank
The sort who would steal your shadow if he could get away with it

[Chris Shaw]

Sad, when trust goes out the window. Some people you just can't trust.

[Vertigo Cat1111]

I agree with Chris! You really showed off how you have to make sure people know what you want before you go! A wonderful poem I really enjoyed. Also, I agree. Frank doesn't seem trustworthy.

[Wild Rose]

Thanks Colacat > I never trusted Frank
Yes you do have to ensure that your wises are knownread moreThanks Colacat > I never trusted Frank
Yes you do have to ensure that your wises are known

Wife's aunt lived alone - All the family had be removed from her will
She died after the people she wanted her money to go to - all her sibling had died
her money was shared between the surviving children of her siblings > More discontent one of the children had also died (Franks daughter)

[barleygirl]

This is one of your most straightforward & clear & interesting stories told in verse. Sometimes you get bogged down in details . . . in this poem, you cram in a ton of vividly detailed details . . . but you still keep your storyline clean & briskly-paced. This reminds me of the Clint Eastwood movie "Gran Torino" (a favorite I watch often) where those in the family want his mint-condition car when the old man dies (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wild Rose]

Thanks Margie > I haven't seen the Clint Eastwood movie
But Yes 'Uncle Frank' was always after a quick buck

He didn't realise we were onto him or the fact that engineering apprentices learned all the ways to stop your car being a quick hot wire steal
Any way the battery in a mini was in a difficult position to get to

[X]

This enjoyable suspensful story of a family saga captured me from beginning to end! My van is 26 years old and like granddad I'll leave to my grandkids that I don't have yet ;))) Wonderful storytelling!

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Kira > Yes things like cars/ furniture Oh and photos are passed on to our offspring > We have photos from 1908

[Betty Hermelee]

Good thing that Grandpa made his wishes known, otherwise might have been real trouble. Chris seemed pleased, took good care of the car, helped his grandma by driving her around, then traded that in when she passed...so all went as grandpa had planned. Nice story, really enjoyed it. Fondly, Betty

[Wild Rose]

None of us liked Frank (Always looking to make a few coppers at others expense)
To me it just proved that he didn't have the technical ability to sort out a not starting problem
No light showing when turned on = battery

[.]

This is a nice poem! Just reading a few stuffs. Even with simplicity it looks elegant!...European poetry are often so elegant, this is no exception. But this simplicity stuns me!

[Robert Trakofler]

I like it:) the spirit of an object has always fascinated me and the story of this car is wonderful and the motions of its passing over the years has a wonderful resonance to it:)

[Gee]

A fine take told, did you ever give that Frank fella a clip around the lug ??

[Wild Rose]

Not worth wasting my energy on . But i/we just avoided him

[Neville]

I am sure there is a moral or two to be found in this intriguing poem my friend .. a grand tale told and told well.. and I sense it is more than just a tad autobiographical .. Frank sounds a bit unsavoury too if ya ask me...

Neville

[Wild Rose]

I never did like Frank or his wife Margaret > They came with my wife (her family)
Their car could not go out when it rained > The tyres would get wet
Mine was on the road everyday > Your tyres are almost worn out - ours are like new (25,000 miles difference
We didn't play golf to get contacts
Any way we moved away, so they had no influence on our lives > Oh and brought Ma in Law with us - so they couldn't tell her how to live he life

Dad had been in/out of hospital for 6 months _ You should have been here (We live 200 miles away)

[Neville]

No kiddin.. that figures..

[Wild Rose]

My eldest sis married one > He has to read ALL her mail No computer she has to share his > She had to emigrate with him & forego a good Athletics carrier

[Neville]

that is so bloomin sad...