Gerty Gribble's Dilemma

[thestoryteller]

GERTY GRIBBLE'S DILEMMA

My aunty Gerty Gribble was a true blue pioneer
as she and husband Harold ran a place called 'Bendemere'.
Two dinkum Aussie battlers, who had given their life's blood
to fifty years of toiling on their outback cattle stud.

So constant had the struggle been that Gert would often quote,
she'd worked her tiny butt off just to keep the place afloat.
The hours were so demanding she had no time for romance
and motherhood had passed her by, she never got the chance.

Old Gert was old and wrinkled when they gave the game away,
though fit as any Mallee bull and jogged ten k a day.
They bought a little donga in a Queensland coastal town,
but sadly, being childless often got old Gerty down.

She knew that her poor Harold was beyond it, without doubt,
so Gert would try a new technique that she had read about.
"You're far too old for IVF," the Doctor kindly said,
but Gert was not to be put off, she forged on right ahead.

"It happens that my Harold has been looking to donate
a hundred thousand dollars to a worthy cause of late.
However if you cannot help". "You'll make a lovely Mum
I'm sure ... so may I ask would next week be too burdensome?"

Aunt Gert she fell first time it seems and had a little boy,
which left her Harold overwhelmed and Gerty filled with joy.
This news then spread like fowl manure and folk were left enthralled.
The Premier and local Mayor among the first who called.

One day while I was driving past I thought I'd duck in too
and see my little cousin ... sort of pop in out the blue.
Aunt Gert was glad to see me, but she asked if I could wait
until he woke from sleeping, though did not elaborate.

Within the hour to my surprise ten other folk called by
and aunty Gert told them the same and I was dumbstruck why.
We sat and dunked our biscuits in the tea she'd kindly made
while Gert was scratching her old head and looked somewhat dismayed.

The Doctor from the clinic, who'd been playing basketball,
had wondered how Gert's baby was and thought he'd make a call.
"It's nice your dropping in" she said, "but Doctor would you mind
just waiting till the baby wakes - I'm in a kind of bind."

"A problem Gert?" the Doctor said, "There something I can do?"
"Not really Doc. He's sound asleep, these folk are waiting too.
I'd show you him asleep and all, if that is what you'd like,
but Doc, I can't recall just where I put the little tyke."

© Merv Webster

From the book Keeping the Culture

[Shelley Hansen]

Good one Merv!

"Dementia takes Stress Out of Motherhood" - now there's an interesting headline!!

Cheers
Shelley

[David Campbell]

Makes you think, Merv. A 63 year old woman gave birth to an IVF baby in Melbourne in August. I wonder what's going to happen in a few years when people start living to 150?

David

[alongtimegone]

Ha ha a good laugh Merv. Not sure I'd want to live to 150 as David wrote.
Wazza

[thestoryteller]

G'day Wazza,

You have to stretch the imagination at times with a tale but strange things have happened.

They say laughter is the best medicine, so embellishing a yarn to get there serves it purpose.

There'd want to be a lot of changes in mankind before I'd want to be 150 too mate.

Hope life is being kind mate.



Merv.