Bye bye, Mr Alphie & I“Oh, what on Earth did I do this time?

Why do you have to whine and whine?

Was it something that I said?About your friend that is already dead?

I can tell you are upset

You have never looked this madI can hear it in your voice

Both your eyes are red and moist

I know you treated hi m like treasureYou must be sad from his departure.”

Mother was nagging all the way

About poor Alphie, for the whole dayI had never heard her say

Such sentimental things, till today

Listening to her is such a boreI didn’t want to hear anymore.

Alphie was always fond of foodHe’d always be the first to grab the loot

His table manners were really quite bad

He ate and ate until he was really quite mad.

“Look! Someone wants to make friends with you!

His name is Danny. Isn’t he cute? ”

I’m going to barf; I’m going to puke

My mother thinks that fellow is “cute”!

How could she think that when she knowsThat I loved Alphie from my head to my toes!

It was two years ago when we first metI remember I was wearing a large green hat

I went into Mr Alan’s pet store

Lo and behold! Who was this I saw?!

I saw a young and handsome faceHe was truly gorgeous, my heart picked up pace

We looked at each other, eye to eye

Oh my gosh! My, oh my!I felt the static electricity

I was almost going crazy!

 

I tried my best to get his attention

We some how had a kind of connection

It was almost “love” at first sightAlthough he wasn’t exactly my height.

Eventually, we started datingI was punctual (I never kept him waiting)

But…

Alphie was really quite a shy guyOn me we always had to rely,

On where to go or what to do

(He never spoke a word or two)

I would bring him to the mallOr the Petronas Philharmonic Hall

Where we would listen to the orchestra play

Until we got tired or bored (either way)

We really were very close to each other

We couldn’t even be separated by my mother

One day, mother just could not stand it

She had almost completely lost it.

“Young lady, you’re being very sillySticking to him like peanut butter and jelly!”

Mother talked, mother nagged

Sometimes, I just disliked the old hag!Arghh!! Wait! What am I saying?

My lunch bills! My clothing!

Who else is paying?!Mother of course! My dearest mother!

Even though she nags, I love her like no other.

Anyway, back to the story

Which is true, not phoney.

It’s Sunday morning, at Alphie’s funeralI was feeling absolutely horrible

It looked like I was the only one crying

 No one else was even trying

to look as devastated as they could

Instead, they were smiling – how could this be GOOD?!

Alphie had become my best friend

But I didn’t know why all this had to end

Our relationship had died away

I was like a lost sheep that had gone astray.

 

All hope was lost. Life was meaningless.

(Usually, I only say that when I’m penniless)

I still miss his big, bulging eyes

The way he swims, the way he glides

Alphie, I will never forget youI will try not to be blue

You were the best friend a girl could wish for 

You were the only goldfish I ever cared for Even though I was only seven,

I knew you would reach the big fish tank in heaven!

It really does feels very, very badTo lose your very favourite pet

But no one can undo the past

Do remember to feed YOUR pet, FAST!

©2005 Charissa HoSMK Convent, Teluk Intan

IN BOLD – CUT OUT/ NEVER PUT IN