Ode to the Light Bulb Searching for his friends one day Mouse found them round a board ‘What’s this?’ he asked, then ‘Can I play?’ ‘You play! On No, Good Lord!’ They nudged up to allow Mouse in And said he was a shoe, He looked at his friends blankly As they showed him what to do. Mouse had not played this before But in no time at all He was earning just like all the rest Which proved he was no fool. A few tunnels from the hub Word spread to Father’s place Mouse was amazing everyone ‘Just come and show your face.’ Father groaned ‘now what?’ For he’d heard such things before That usually meant disaster’s struck With ceiling gone or floor! Perhaps he’s doing something right, But then again perhaps not Then Eric ran full pelt at him, “Father! Come see what Mouse has got!” Head in hands a groan expelled Father hobbled on Why oh why was Mouse like this? Soon everything’d be gone. For Mouse took things from Above To him it wasn’t stealing I needed it was all he’d say Leaving Father reeling. Geoffrey came now into view ‘Oh hurry Father do You must see this you really must’ Father hadn’t got a clue. There was still yet far to go When Mary came in sight ‘Mouse has the electric company now’ she said Giving Father such a fright. He hurried faster hobbling forth His temper on the boil Of course he’d wondered yesterday When he’d seen Mouse with some copper coil. He’d also had a bulb or two And a row had broken out ‘We don’t need electric light down here’ Father had been made to shout. ‘Gizmo good, the best you’ve seen, Just connect it here and there, Just flick the switch and you’ll see Father We’ll have light then everywhere.’ ‘Mouse, no! I forbid you to do this we don’t need light down here taking electric from above is wrong and fills me full of fear. If the authorities chase up on this, And discover the loss in power We’ll be in so much trouble then, It’ll be worse than Burch’s tower.’ ‘But must have light,’ heard Vincent say and Vincent is my friend. Surely won’t be stealing Just a little light to lend?’ ‘Mouse!’ Father exasperated ‘It’s stealing through and through Above you would be sent a bill For everything you do.’ Mouse had shook his head and gone His departing words not good, When Vincent entered dressed in cloak And lowered down his hood. ‘Was that Mouse?’ he fondly said, To Father’s trembling face, ‘What’s wrong Father are you ill?’ Clawed fingers his brow did trace. ‘No no, I am well.’ his father said full of grumble and grouse, ‘It’s not me that needs attention It’s that headstrong, numb-skull Mouse.’ Remembering now the words they’d said And anxious now of mind Father wondered when he reached the place Just what it was he’d find. ‘Mouse said that you wanted light.’ Father accusingly had said Vincent’s eyes gave not a clue away, He’d just wordlessly shook his head. ‘Well he thinks that you want light down here, and not from wax and wick He’s stealing electricity from Above. You’ve got to stop him quick!’ ‘I don’t want electric light down here’ Confused his son had sighed ‘I wonder where he got that from?’ ‘Just stop him!’ Father cried. At once Vincent had gone to Mouse For his father dear Found Mouse and asked a thing or two And everything came clear. ‘Oh no, not that Mouse, oh no’ Vincent laughed real hard ‘I didn’t mean that sort of light just the sort that’s on the card.’ That night Vincent went above At Catherine’s he was staying And never reported back to Father Of the game he had been playing. So now as Father trod the way Driven by horrors grand He envisaged bright light everywhere And this he couldn’t stand. To see the coil and light bulbs blazing Instead of soft candle light And holding his breath he stumbled on Prepared for such a sight. And as he neared Jamie’s chamber Cheered voices met him first His anger rose to throaty bile His fury fit to burst. By the entranceway he hesitated Listening to the chatter within ‘Mouse you’ve now got water and light at this rate you could win.’ Hand to heart his eyes closed tight Father stepped inside If Mouse knew what was good for him The boy would run and hide. Announcing arrival with tap of stick Father’s presence sounded ‘Here he comes – he’ll be so surprised to see the empire Mouse has founded.’ Brows drawn tight over suspicious eyes Father noticed first the light Not harsh electric as he’d presumed But candles flickering bright. ‘I don’t understand. Where are the bulbs?’ he asked on seeing Mary ‘Light down here?’ she exclaimed in stunned surprised ‘Is your stick a wand? You fairy!’ People laughed and Father blushed His face turned beaming red ‘But I heard you say that Mouse had light’ he accusingly then said. ‘And so he does and water too as well as hotels and lots of money. Oh Father you didn’t think… Oh no…not that…Oh Father that’s so funny.’ ‘Then what is happening here?’ On the table his eyes did fix. As Mouse jumped up gleefully shouting ‘I’ve rolled a double six!’ Slowly realisation dawned And with relief and pleasure Father saw how much Mouse had Not electricity but rather treasure. So it was Monopoly that Mouse played Father exhaled a sigh of bliss But just as he turned to go, He exclaimed ‘oh no what’s this?’ A box of bulbs, a roll of coil Lay in a cardboard box And plastic explosive and a plan Lay there upon some rocks. ‘It’s all right Father, don’t fret so Mouse is not to blame, Vincent said he’d needed light Mouse didn’t know it was for the game.’ Again Father sighed with relief And returned back to his place, Fortunately not noticing as he left The look on Mouse’s face. ‘Mustn’t waste anything Must use it really should Father’ll see, be oh so pleased Next Gizmo really good!’