At A Jumble Sale

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Fri, 10 Aug 2018
  • 1518 reads
6 comments
 
Our social club decided
to hold a jumble sale
of second hand clothes
and I was nominated
to be a volunteer.
 
As it was winter time
the weather was cold
so I bought a new coat
that was padded inside
and it was very warm.
 
I went to the place
where the event was
and brought with me
some old garments
I didn't need anymore.
 
I made myself ready
to be a charity worker,
took off my new coat
and put it on the back
of my wooden chair.
 
Having sold all the stuff
that was on my table
I should have been chuffed
to have raised a good sum
so why did I look glum?
 
Another keen volunteer
from the stall next to me
unconsciously thought
that the coat on my chair
was an item to be sold.
 
A person had bought it
for only three pounds.
Informed of the error
he didn't stand his ground
but kindly returned it.
 
He graciously refused
to have his money back.
This welcome donation
represented salvation
for an inattentive git.
 
© Luigi Pagano 2018
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Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

haha - loved the final line!

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I was young and foolish then, not paying enough attention. Much older now and wiser, perhaps.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

What a tale! Watch your belongings in the scrum! Those were the days before charity shops weren't they? My mum lived in a smart village, and used to get lovely clothes for my daughter when she was little. Rhiannon

[one typo: took of my new coat – off]

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

As you say, one could find bargains at a jumble sale especially if it was held in a well-to-do area. Sometimes women could get designer-label dresses at those events.

Thanks for pointing out typo, now corrected.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Alice Hamilton on

This poem makes me smile and I am pleased about the happy ending. A while ago I used to help at a local charity shop on a Saturday morning. This was always a very busy time. One day a devious customer bought the coat of a volunteer. I say ‘devious’ because this customer removed the price tag from a coat on the rack and fixed it on my colleague’s designer raincoat, which was folded neatly behind the counter. This garment had no distinguishing feature (unless you could see the lining) but whenever I see someone wearing a beige trench coat I am reminded of the incident and I look that person in the eye.

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Alice. That wasn't a very 'charitable' act, I must say. When something like that happens one  is bound to become suspicious of every person who looks shifty.
At least in my case it was a genuine mistake  and no malpractice was intended.

Best, Luigi