Andy seems to have acquired a speech impediment since the last time I talked to him, such as, "Wife is arduous but wonderful." I understand that he means "life" since he doesn't seem to have married since the last time I talked to him, which is probably fortunate for both of them, though one never knows.
Andy mentioned that he too had been hit by a car once, which did not turn out well for the car, unlike in my case. Or "unwike," as he now says, at least he will if the spell check doesn't quit correcting things. It seems that Andy was on his way to Indiana, he forgets the route, and was standing by the side of the "wode" when a shiny big blue convertible pulled up beside him, where upon its driver asked him if he wanted a "wide." He told them he didn't just accept "wides" from anyone and would need to know where "they" were going, the smooth talking young man and his beautiful, red-haired female companion.
"Why, young man," the smooth talking driver said, "we are going to the crossroads some 3 miles down the road, where you will have a choice."
"What kind of choice?" replied naive Andy.
"Why, whether to continue with us down the road most taken or to strike off on your own to the right or 'weft,'" as Andy was telling it.
"Ah," said Andy, "are you and you fair companion Crossroad's Demons?" (I mentioned that Andy was fairly naive; and I should add that he watched way too much television). Andy, apparently, had no sooner asked his question when the driver threw the big blue convertible into reverse, roared a football field's distance back down the road (for non sports lovers, that is approximately a hundred yards), dropped the big blue machine into drive, and aimed it "wite" at poor startled Andy. The acceleration of the beast was so great that Andy said he had no chance to "weap" out of the way. He thought certainly he was dead, but just as the machine touched him, it vanished, seemingly into the ground, in an enormous cloud of bright red smoke, the exact color of the female companion's hair.
"Whoa," I said. "That is quite a story, Andy! I am glad you made it out alive, untouched by your experience."
"Well, yes," said Andy, "that's as may be. However, I do have a bit of verse for you to consider, if you have the time."
"I'll make time," I said. "Let me have it." And so he did.
The Marsupial
by Andy Panda
Would I were a Wombat
Living way down under;
I'd eat a leaf and chew some bark
And make a sound like thunder.
"That's it?"
"That's it," said Andy Panda. "What do you think?"