Bonzer Words!: Dirty Jack
'Mum, did you see his leg through the hole in his trousers? It was black with dirt. His hands were filthy too. And he didn't take his disgusting hat off to eat.'
Carolyn Hirsh tells a tale which confirms that everyone is deserving of respect.
'Good afternoon Mr. Branton.'
My mother was polite to all the customers who came into our country town general store and occasional cafe. A good businesswoman.
'Tea an' bishcuts pleashe Mrshuss Murphy.'
Sniggering, I watched through the crack in the door as 'Old Jack' Branton shuffled over to the couple of tables and chairs in the window corner of our shop, the soles of his boots flapping and his sugar bag of shopping over his shoulder.
'Stop that rudeness, he's a customer,' from my mother as she headed to the kitchen to prepare Mr. Branton's afternoon tea.
'Then why do you keep his cup and saucer away from all the other dishes?'
No reply.
Mother carried the tea things to Old Jack Branton on a wooden tray.
'How's your health this week Mr. Branton?'
'Well I'm not too bad but me 'orse an' me dawg is getting' so old they c'n 'ardly get inta town.'
I watched in fascinated horror as, drooling, he dipped milk arrowroot biscuits one by one into his tea and shoved the soggy mess into his mouth. I don't think he had any teeth. In the manner of an earlier time, he poured his tea into the saucer and slurped noisily from it.
As he left he called, 'Thanksh Mrshuss Murphy, see yer next week.'
'Goodbye Mr. Branton.'
'Mum, did you see his leg through the hole in his trousers? It was black with dirt. His hands were filthy too. And he didn't take his disgusting hat off to eat.'
'You should show respect for people no matter who they are. Old Jack can't help it. He lives in a shed on the Merrill's property with his horse and dog. There's probably not much water. Mrs. Merrill said he's all alone with no family, poor old bugger. He's worked for the Merrills since he was a kid, so they let him live in the shed without paying. You shouldn't make rude comments about him, or for that matter about anyone else who comes into the shop.'
She took a bucket of hot water with phenyl into the shop, dropped the tea things into it and carefully wiped down the table and chair.
**
Carolyn writes for Bonzer! magazine. Please visit www.bonzer.org.au
