Reprise

Neuron screams to neuron,”Molly Bates!”
Synapses trigger fifty-year-old charges.

Molly Bates his bane of early working years.
Boiling over milk to spoil range elements.
Accepting no-one else to make repairs.
She fancied him. He knew it. No-one else believed.
She was his Mum’s age. Married. Seven kids.
His boss, highly amused, would not allow excuse
Suggesting the experience might do him good.
She’d told him once she’d nothing underneath her dress.
Though acting dumb, he’d seen where this was meant to lead
And timed his future calls to have her spouse at home
Scared, that alone,she’d press, refusal bringing cries of rape.
All day she’d ring his boss, “Where is MY man to fix MY stove?”
And even husband home, her act for him was blatant,

Now in a old friends home, the grandchild nearly eight
Is practicing her ballet steps. So she pretends.
Though studiously giving him no heed. It’s clear
She plays for his attention.