The Yellow Bag

They’d arranged to meet on Charter Street

At the point that midnight chimed,

She was to come with a yellow bag,

And he with a book of rhyme,

The ad had run in the Daily Mail

And had said, and here I quote:

‘Wanted: A gentleman for fun

With a high speed motor boat.’

 

Then he’d replied that he had the boat

Could she bring along the fun,

And she wrote back, ‘Nice to meet you, Jack,

I have fun for everyone.’

He saw her in front of the Gaumont

That had played ‘The Cruel Sea’,

Standing there with a yellow bag

And thought, ‘That’s the one for me!’

 

He wandered up and he waved the book

With the title ‘Nonsense Rhyme’,

She gave him a cool, appraising look

Like a laid back Valentine.

‘It’s much too late for the boating lake,’

He said, ‘Would you like a drink?’

And she stood there with a vacant stare

But replied, ‘What do you think?’

 

He led her down to the Castle Club

Where he had a private booth,

Then sat her down till the drinks came round

And remarked upon her youth.

She raised a brow when he asked her how

She had come to advertise,

She said, ‘It’s something I have to do

If I need to meet new guys.’

 

They drank their drinks and they talked a bit

About nothing much, per se,

And then he asked her about the fun

But she said he’d have to pay.

‘I thought a ride in my motor boat

Would be payment,’ he began,

To which she said, ‘I’m not free to ride,

I’m a working courtesan.’

 

While back in the heart of Charter Street

Where the leaves blew from the trees,

A girl stood there in a party dress

And the wind blew round her knees,

She’d been in watching ‘The Cruel Sea’

For the time had seemed to lag,

But now stood out on an empty street

Holding her yellow bag.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Willard Wells]

I am sure it would have been worth the price of a ride. Very fun piece. Ending appears a little soft for you, but then again maybe I am missing something. I want to add that I liked it a great deal. I think I was looking for a head in the bag or something in the end. I guess I am thinking darker thoughts tonight.

[Mic]

Ha! She chose the tote and missed the boat! Fun write, David!

[Roxie M]

This is my first review. I enjoyed this.

[R Smith]

haha sorry bout laughing David but the irony of his mistake and two yellow bags, i just could'nt resist a smile or two, what a terrible mistake to make, do we really lose our hopes and dreams on the twist of fate such as this, i bet it happens!

[ANTO]

Well well, the lothario got a taste of medicine then. I laughed out loud at this one. Felt a little sad for the girl with the yellow bag but only because she knew the embarrassment of being stood up however also felt relieved that she was being spared this guy.
Your versatility never ceases to impress me David.
Excellent my friend. Just excellent.

[Valentine]

She missed out and the courtesan my have too if he wasn't carrying around a full wallet. A bit softer tale coming from the master of writes. Valentine

[Barbz]

If I had a Yellow bag, I'd surely toss it out....after reading your rhyme. For I wouldn't want to be identified as one looking for a hardly good time. It's obvious that she advertised, for her, a man of means...nary one who merely has some jingle in his jeans. I found this very amusing and up front......but, as always, a bit of brain teasing....Barbz

[A Soap Mess Stories]

another good story David.

[Marie]

Oh that's too bad. She should have been more specific, but then not that many women carry yellow bags. It's not a fashion trend.

[Vishuddha]

You can't get something for nothing and these days money is the measure of all things.