I’m kinda stuck for anything original for this week’s Writers’ Pantry over at Poets And Storytellers United, so I’m offering up this recycled veteran, originally published (ages ago) in May, 2001 by the Higginsville Reader, a fine (now defunct) print journal, and later (December, 2017) in Of Burgers and Barrooms, an outstanding print anthology from the Main Street Rag Bookstore.
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(With thanks — and aplologies — to WCW)
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So Much Depends Upon A Red Wig
Ronald hasn’t shown up again
for half a decade; vanished
after his visit to cut the ribbon
and open the public doors.
Now he merely sends an emissary
once or twice a month:
eighteen wheels and a logo
bearing frozen potatoes
and placemats or paper bags.
Meanwhile, Manager Mike pines,
longs for a simple glimpse
of pancake, of a rubber nose,
or a pair of two-foot long
red plastic shoes.
He watches
his all-expenses-paid
managers’ incentive
Holiday in Cozumel
go south along Main,
turn left into Peking Gardens
while down the block, smirking,
his arch-enemy Wendy
serves Mike’s former regulars
with a vacant and Frosty smile.
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Poets And Storytellers United
Writers’ Pantry #37
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Everything is on the move. We often hate change but it doesn’t take us long to accept it in almost all fields of life.
If I were Manager Mike, I’d be longing for a glimpse of Ronald too. You kinda get used to the familiar, and when the familiar disappears, well, things just ain’t the same.
Everyone has his responsibility. Ronald cut the ribbon and officially opened. Why is manager Mike still looking back. His responsibility is moving the restuarant along. The way i see it anyway
Happy Sunday Ron. Thanks for dropping by my sumie Sunday today
Much💛love
I wonder about Ronald too. Nobody likes clowns much anymore. At least he has a house for helping others named after him.
Clowns have fallen from grace, but Ronald has left a legacy in the Ronald McDonald houses. Good for him!
I just pictured a picture of Ronald on a milk carton. Wendy sees it and her grin widens. Change is often strange (creepy-looking, too, in some cases).
May I quickly say this is quite brilliant … and funny … and wonderful. Heading out to buy myself one of those huge Big Macs now.
Change, I grit my teeth at it and beg its arrival with the next breath.
Interesting. A very cool job of personifying what are essentially, corporate logos. A fun read.
Maybe a cage match is in order? I’m reminded of a local chain called Mr Quick and now I’m hungry for a burger.