Tom Sawyer - Not!

Where was the spirit of Tom Sawyer when I needed it? This is how it should have gone but didn't:

** ".........Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?"

That put the thing in a new light. Ben stopped nibbling his apple. Tom swept his brush daintily back and forth -- stepped back to note the effect -- added a touch here and there -- criticised the effect again -- Ben watching every move and getting more and more interested, more and more absorbed. Presently he said:

"Say, Tom, let ME whitewash a little."

Tom considered, was about to consent; but he altered his mind:

"No -- no -- I reckon it wouldn't hardly do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly's awful particular about this fence -- right here on the street, you know -- but if it was the back fence I wouldn't mind and SHE wouldn't. Yes, she's awful particular about this fence; it's got to be done very careful; I reckon there ain't one boy in a thousand, maybe two thousand, that can do it the way it's got to be done."

"No -- is that so? Oh come, now -- lemme just try. Only just a little -- I'd let YOU, if you was me, Tom."


There was no Ben or any other pals to hand to help me paint a new garden fence. The old one got blown down in the strong winds in Sept when we were on holiday overseas. The new one needed waterproofing of course. And having had lots of days of rain providing me with good excuses for not painting I ran out of luck today. The sun shone and there was no escaping. I put it off and I further put it off but I knew in my mind that I was going to at least start painting that fence. So I started. It's half done and the rest will get done when the weather improves next week.

It was of course a brilliant idea that Tom Sawyer had for feigning to like work and conning others into doing the work for him. A tactic that is timeless and works as well today as it has ever done. It needs victims though, and it was just my luck there were none about. Perhaps I'll have better luck next week when I tackle the remainder...............

Enjoy the weekend blippers.

** Acknowledgement to Mark Twain.