Agnes by Tony Cochran for August 30, 2020

No quo without the quid.

One of those interesting hypothetical questions. I suspect that all people will get is bad poetry and bad advice.

It is the thought that counts. I think my thoughts are most valuable and should be rewarded…in a tangible way. At that point I will certainly be generous with paying the tangibles forward.

Agnes, Trout is an ingrate! Everyone know that grown-ups are rich! No generosity for her!

LOL! This is a good one! Perfect response by Agnes.

The only thing that would improve on Agnes’ answer would be if it were in poetic form.

If you don’t like my poem

Your cash will find a different home.

Maybe a limerick even

There once was a girl named Trout

We went everywhere about

She had no time

for words that rhyme

So now she does without.

Ok, maybe I should have gone with the haiku.

I listen to all my rich poet friends.

I was born with nothing and still have most of it left.

I volunteer at the hospital’s psych ward. Many people who come through are newly insane or suicidal with good insurance, oftentimes from their parents. If you don’t have insurance, you end up at the state hospital a few counties over. In many cases, these are people who have never been poor and are suddenly adjusting to their new unfortunate reality, so I have to listen to tales of woe that involve not being able to afford the latest iphone or having their BMW repossessed. As someone who failed to claw my way to the middle class, it’s somewhat hard to commiserate with their feelings.

Agnes has, in the past, given to those less fortunate than she. A few Christmases past there was an arc wherein Agnes and Grandma brought groceries to a family even poorer than they are. (If I recall correctly it was Grandma’s idea, but Agnes came around to full support.)