An Invitation To Tea (A Dark Comedy) Part 3
(It is advisable you read parts 1 and 2 first)
Grace watched him for a few minutes, and then moved to the back of the shop. “He is going to come around at six tonight. I do hop Mr Potter like him.”
“I’m sure he will. Grace.”
“I can’t help feeling bit concerned after Mr Armad.”
“It was the curry Mr Armad insisted on making. Revolting stuff. I felt queasy as Mr Potter afterwards. Anyway Mr Potter always prefers Englishmen, even when Aunty had him staying with her.”
Charles checked his watch, and then knocked the door. The lights appeared in the shop and the silhouette of one of the sisters grew large in the glass panel of the door. Charlotte smiled.
“Do come in Mr Latimer.”
Charles entered and followed Charlotte through to the back of the shop. As they entered the room, Grace turned from the oven with a tray of freshly baked scones. She smiled.
“Please have a seat, Mr Latimer. Tea is ready.”
“Call me Charles, Mr Latimer seems so formal.” he replied as he sat where Charlotte directed. “I hope you don’t mind me asking but where is Mr Potter going to sit? ”
“Unfortunately, Mr Potter prefers to eat alone. You will meet him later. I have told him you are coming and h I looking forward to meeting you.” Grace replied and brought forward the tray if scones. “Please help yourself Charles.”
Charles waited until the sisters were seated before starting.
“I think these are your best scones, Grace.”
“Thank you Charlotte.”
“I will second that. These are best scones I’ve ever tasted. I hope that Mr Potter will appreciate them.”
“I’m sure he will.” Grace replied and watched with satisfaction as the scones disappeared from the plate.
“Another cup of tea Charles? ” Charlotte asked holding the teapot poised.
“Thank you.”
As Charlotte poured out the tea, Grace collected the dishes from the table. “While Charlotte and I do the washing up you sit and enjoy your tea.”
“What about Mr Potter? ”
“We’ll collect his dishes later.”
“Charles drank his tea slowly. He wondered how he could thank the two women. He would have to think of a way later.
Grace and Charlotte smiled and nodded to one another. Mr Potter would enjoy Charles. They dried their hands and placed the dishes into the cupboard.
“I see you have almost drunk your tea. I presume you would like to see Mr Potter now? ”
“Yes please.”
“If you will follow us.”
Charles followed the sisters out of the room and into the garden.
“Unfortunately we have only one pair of stairs leading to the basement.”
“Basement? ”
“Yes, Mr Potter is not one for coming into the house. He is a bit eccentric.”
“Oh.”
2Grace dear, would you put the light on? You will have to watch the bottom step Charles. It can be a bit slippery at times.”
“Aren’t you ladies coming down? ”
“No. Mr Potter does not like women that much. “She said and smiled. “I will close the door behind you.”
Charles descended the stairs. A peculiar stench rose around him. Just as he put his foot on the bottom step, it tilted and he fell forward.
Charlotte heard the splash followed by the thrashing of water. She closed the storm door and called to Grace to switch the light off. Grace joined her there a few moments later.
“How did Mr Potter greet Charles? ”
“His usually noisy self. I do not understand why crocodiles have to make so much noise when they eat. At least with Charles he won’t get indigestion”
8-9 September 1987
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
An Invitation To Tea (A Dark Comedy) Part 1
Charles Latimer visited the corner shop run by the Forbes sisters Charlotte and Grace almost every day. He could have collected his groceries in one visit, but the short intercourse of words they exchanged broke the emptiness in his life. As he entered the shop, the tiny bell above the door chimed.
Grace Forbes stood behind the counter. “Good morning Mr Latimer, ” she said. “What would you like today? ”
Good morning, Grace. I’ve written out a small list. My needs are not many as you know.” He replied and smiled.
“I’m surprised you never married. You would have made some lucky woman a wonderful husband.”
Charles Latimer felt his cheeks warm. “Would it be all right to leave the list and pick up my groceries later? ”
“Of course. Why, have you got a date with someone? ”
“In a manner of speaking. I feed the pigeons in the park every morning about this time. I must be going now.”
“We’ll have your groceries ready by the time you get back.”
“Thank you, ” he said, turned, and left.
Grace watched him leave. A sad unpretentious man whose clothes always seemed a size too large.
“Grace who were you talking to? ” Her sister asked entering the shop.
“Our Mr. Latimer, Charlotte. He has left a list.”
“It is a shame he never married.”
“Yes. He wasn’t fortunate to be blessed with a brother or sister neither. Such a same.”
“Maybe we should introduce him to Mr Potter.”
“I don’t think so. Not after the trouble we had with him after Mr Armad’s visit.”
“That is because he wasn’t English. Mr Potter doesn’t like foreigners. He found Mr Small and Mr Cummings quite agreeable, didn’t he? ”
“Yes.”
“He is bound to like Mr Latimer.” Charlotte smiled. “Now we must put up his groceries for him.”
To be continued…
poem by David Harris
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An Invitation To Tea (A Dark Comedy) Part 2
(It is advisable you read part 1 first)
Charles Latimer broke up the slices of bread he brought and scattered them across the path. “You’ll never guess what Grace Forbes said to me this morning. She said that I would have made some lucky woman a wonderful husband. Of course, she doesn’t really know me. I mean, if she did she wouldn’t have said that, now would she? ”
The pigeons didn’t reply. They just moved about from one piece of bread to another and chasing off any sparrow who tried to snatch up a crumb.
“Of course she is a lovely woman her. I am surprised that she never married. There was talk that she was engaged once. It’s said that the chap ran off with her best friend, but at least she has her sister to keep her company.” His voice lowered to almost a whisper when he noticed someone coming.
Removing another couple of slices of bread from the bag, he broke them up. He scattered the pieces in a semi-circled at his feet. Several more birds landed. Squabbles broke out.
“Its all right fellows I have more bread, “he said and broke up another slice. “ Now where was I? Oh, yes. I was telling you about Grace and her sister. They are so lucky to have each other. Myself I was an only child. It can be lonely at times when your parents are gone. Of course you wouldn’t understand that.”
The pigeons moved about picking at the bread always watchful for a larger another might have. Several sparrows swooped in picked up a pieces and then flew off. Charles watched them scattering more bread until the bag was empty. Slowly the last pieces disappeared and the birds left.
Glancing at his watch Charles noticed it was nearly twelve. He must pick up his shopping and go home. He folded the bag he carried the bread in and slipped it into his pocket. He moved out of the park and towards the corner shop. The tiny doorbell chimed s he entered.
Grace smiled and lifted a brown paper bag onto the counter. “Your groceries Mr Latimer. How were the pigeons today? ”
“Their usual self. They can be bullies at times especially where the sparrows are concerned.” he replied. “How much do owe you? ”
“That will be five pounds and sixteen pence. I am sorry it’s so much, but everything goes up almost daily.”
“I know. It is dreadful.” He said opening his wallet and playing her.
“Mr Latimer, Charlotte and I were wondering.”
“What is that Grace? ”
“If you would do us the honour of coming around for tea one evening. As you live, alone you might like some company. Or dear Mr Potter would love to meet you.”
“Mr Potter? I thought you and Charlotte lived on your own.”
“Mr Potter was a friend of our late Aunt. That is the only reason why we agreed to have him here“
“Oh, I don‘t know.”
Grace put on he most disarming smile. “You know we would dearly love you to come.”
“Well, yes.”
“Good we will see you this evening. Let us say about six o’clock. How is that? ”
Charles forces small smile. “Yes I guess that would be all right..”
“We will see you at six then.”
To Be Concluded
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Baby Charlotte Song
Baby Charlotte, baby Charlotte
With your eyes big and brown
Your silent slumber so peaceful
You don't make a sound.
Baby Charlotte, baby Charlotte
With your smile so sweet
Your full head of hair
Your tiny, precious feet.
Baby Charlotte, baby Charlotte
With your dimples so deep
Your laughter contagious
Your personality unique.
Baby Charlotte, baby Charlotte
With your expression divine
Your smarter than most
Your namesake is mine.
poem by Gail Godin
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Baby Charlotte Lullabye
Baby Charlotte, Baby Charlotte
With your eyes big and brown
Your silent slumber so peaceful
You don't make a sound
Baby Charlotte, Baby Charlotte
With your smile so sweet
Your full head of hair
Your tiny, precious feet
Baby Charlotte, Baby Charlotte
With your dimples so deep
Your laughter contagious
Your personality unique
Baby Charlotte, Baby Charlotte
With your expressions devine
Your smarter than most
Your namesake is mine.
poem by Gail Godin
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Be clay
Don’t be half-hearted about this –
be clay.
You know all about clay –
be clay.
Humble, submissive, reverent –
awaiting the Potter’s hands.
Enjoy that humility, that surrender –
feel already so near God.
Now the wheel begins to turn –
the Potter is here!
Feel His hands – the more you feel them,
the more you know the love in them.
Now you’re being shaped:
turned on the wheel like a dervish turns,
you’re becoming like that tall column of stillness,
rising from the centre of the whirling skirt;
still; in the memory of the Potter’s hands;
you recognise yourself who waited for you.
*
[leaning on the poems of Hafiz]
poem by Michael Shepherd
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So I told Robert from the start that if we couldn't get Charles and Max to take part, but especially Charles, that I didn't want to make the film. So would he call his mother and talk to Charles and see if Charles would at all be interested.
quote by Terry Zwigoff
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The potter and the dancer
A potter made pots,
which are there after the potter has worked.
A dancer did dance,
which is not there after the dancer has worked.
God is a dancer,
Who dances from where things vibrate.
God isn't a potter
To create things and be away from it.
13.07.2012
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Charles in Charge
New boy in the neighborhood
Lives down stairs and it's understood.
He's there just to take good care of me.
Like he's one of the family.
Charles in charge of
Our days and our nights.
Charles in charge of
Our wrongs and our rights.
So I say
I want Charles in charge of me.
Charles
song performed by by Relient K from Relient K
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cavalier Tunes: Give a Rouse
King Charles, and who'll do him right now?
King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?
Give a rouse: here's, in Hell's despite now,
King Charles!
Who gave me the goods that went since?
Who raised me the house that sank once?
Who helped me to gold I spent since?
Who found me in wine you drank once?
(Chorus)
King Charles, and who'll do him right now?
King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?
Give a rouse: here's, in Hell's despite now,
King Charles!
To whom used my boy George quaff else,
By the old fool's side that begot him?
For whom did he cheer and laugh else,
While Noll's damned troopers shot him?
(Chorus)
King Charles, and who'll do him right now?
King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?
Give a rouse: here's, in Hell's despite now,
King Charles!
poem by Robert Browning
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Give a Rouse
I
King Charles, and who'll do him right now?
King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?
Give a rouse: here's, in hell's despite now,
King Charles!
II
Who gave me the goods that went since?
Who raised me the house that sank once?
Who helped me to gold I spent since?
Who found me in wine you drank once?
Chorus. King Charles, and who'll do him right now?
King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?
Give a rouse: here's, in hell's despite now,
King Charles!
III
To whom used my boy George quaff else,
By the old fool's side that begot him?
For whom did he cheer and laugh else,
While Noll's damned troopers shot him?
Chorus. King Charles, and who'll do him right now?
King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?
Give a rouse: here's, in hell's despite now,
King Charles!
poem by Robert Browning from Cavalier Tunes (1842)
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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I am a really big Harry Potter fan and I've seen all the sets, I've lived Harry Potter and I don't think it's destroyed the books at all, I think it's really spot on.
quote by Rupert Grint
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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So Harry Potter came in and it is nice that I have kids of the right age. I took them to London and they walked around the set and met Harry Potter and that is thrilling.
quote by Gary Oldman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Charlotte The Harlot '88
Dave Murray
Giving a swish with your arse in the air, don't you know what they're saying?
Charlotte you're so refined when you take all the love that they're giving.
Sticking with every man that you find, don't you know what they're after?
Charlotte you've got your legs in the air, don't you hear all the laughter?
*Chorus*:
Charlotte the Harlot show me your legs,
Charlotte the Harlot take me to bed.
Charlotte the Harlot let me see blood,
Charlotte the Harlot let me see love.
Taking so many men to your room, don't you feel no remorse?
You charge them a "fiver", It's only for starters.
And ten for the main course.
And you've got no feelings, they died long ago.
Don't you care who you let in?
And don't you know you're breaking the law with the service you're giving.
*Chorus*
There was a time when you left me standing there,
Picking up pieces of love off the floor.
Well Charlotte you left me alone in there,
To make your ends as a bloody whore.
Well Charlotte you told me you love me true,
Picking up pieces of love yesterday.
Well Charlotte you're draws are off color too
'Cause you're making love all day.
Giving a swish with your arse in the air, don't you know what they're saying?
Charlotte you're so refined when you take all the love that they're giving.
Sticking with every man that you find, don't you know what they're after?
Charlotte you've got your legs in the air, don't you hear all the laughter?
*Chorus*
song performed by by Iron Maiden
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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At Right Moment
'You have blown my mind' one of the reader commented
It was with reference to one of my poems posted
'Are there any more words for poet to say' she added
Now it was my turn to feel speechless as I was highly graded
It is nice to feel, when some one staying far, is commenting
Her feeling in simple but in effective way and presenting
I can understand about the state of mind when you are moved
There exists no double thought or opinion to be removed
'We are potter's clay' I humbly stated
We have found no other way
We sing in His praise and enjoy
That is how the life is to be spent with joy
We also know that not all pots survive
Potter makes all efforts to save them and revive
Yet he expresses helplessness at the end
Looks towards sky as if that blessing god has sent
How come poems emerge from tiny mind?
It has no place to store and convenient place to find
I have wondered many times but simply surrendered
It is nothing but a grace that has been showered
I shall relentlessly strive to present
At any place and in any form like crescent moon
It may not offer enough light but a rare glimpse
Still more to say that feeling of divine force
I would love to praise not only about him alone
But nature as well to have come to our aid as one
We fail to notice the merciful act from time to time
Yet they are sent regardless of what we err sometimes
I bow my head in silence and thank
To all those who have become my close friend
Not out of any personal bond or attachment
But due to simple words to have come at right moment
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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song of Father Gabriele Amorth
The Daily Mail, UK and Herald Sun (Australia) report on how
Father Gabriele Amroth of the Vatican teaches that yoga and
Harry Potter and the ‘oriental religions’ are
the works of the Devil...the following poem expresses my outrage
at such stupidity and parochialism that still exists
amongst some groups of Europeans even today in their relations
with the East
O yoga yoga
baby baby
sings Father Gabriele Amorth
in the Italian town of Terni
O yoga yoga
no go no go
to yoga yoga
baby baby
all you innocents
and pure
all blessed
and destined for Heaven
no go to yoga yoga
yoga yoga
yogurt is fine
sugar in your yogurt is fine
strawberry and apple
in your yogurt is fine
so eat eat your
yogurt yogurt yogurt
but yoga yoga
O yoga yoga
no go no go no go baby
baby baby
sings Father Gabriele Amorth
in the Italian town of Terni
and also no go to Harry Potter
baby baby baby
no go no go
no go to yoga no to yoga
and no go no go
to Harry Potter
baby baby baby
now say after me:
“yoga yoga yoga
baa baa baa
bad bad bad”
and say after me:
“Harry Potter Harry Potter
moo moo moo
bad bad bad”
O baby baby baby
at our next conference
I’ll teach you
how the Dragon is bad
and how the Chinese got it all wrong
all these centuries
with their Chinese Dragon, Dragon, Dragon
but that’s for next time
next time next time
baby baby baby
for now just repeat after me
your most reverend
Father Gabriele Amorth
in the Italian town of Terni:
O yoga yoga
no go no go
to yoga yoga
baby baby
And say after me
all ye faithful
all ye blessed:
“Harry Potter Harry Potter
moo moo moo
bad bad bad”
poem by Raj Arumugam
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Charles Akalaonu
Wher are you Charles Akalaonu?
Where are you to read my muse?
I have beeen searching everywhere to find you;
Charles Akalaonu where are you?
I hope to find you one day,
I hope to meet you one day,
I hope to see you one day
Maybe one day you will read this poem.
Where are you Charles Akalaonu?
Maybe one day your children will read this poem;
Charles Akalaonu where are you?
Maybe one day your siblings will read this poem;
Say hello to your wife and children,
Great the entire members of your family as well;
Maybe one day you will read this poem.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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In the spirit of Rumi - 29
O Caliphs of the world
who have executed so many saints
for daring to say that ‘I am God within myself’ –
If you yourselves are not God within yourselves,
then who are you to pronounce punishment
upon any other man?
And now, every man who carries
a sword, a dagger, bomb or gun
would think himself a Caliph,
messenger of the Lord…
how wrong they are.
Yet Allah, the great, the merciful beyond our understanding,
allows them to live on after their victims’ death - gives
a little time to know themselves
as the wheel of the potter, Destiny, turns for them,
before they return to Him
as clay to be reshaped in the Potter’s hands
or dry and crumble into dust.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Though Pot I am, I am Thine Pot!
Potter, Potter, making clay-pot!
Did you make me misshap’n somewhat?
Was it perhaps done on purpose?
Should I blame myself for my cross?
Perhaps, I was untimely born,
Or made in haste, Thine shop adorn!
May be Thine mood was not that good,
When Thou made me out of mere clod!
Perhaps, the mix was rather wrong,
Or else Thou sang a sadder song!
Perhaps, water salty was used;
And so I crack’d a bit when baked!
May be, I wasn’t well baked at all;
Or baked too much: suff’red a fall!
Perhaps, the hearth was not quite hot;
Perhaps, it was my own dear fault.
How do I serve Thee still? I muse;
Though handicapped, could Thou me use?
Could Thou recast my misshap’n form,
So that I can most well perform?
Could thou alter my bizarre look,
Before people think I’m a spook?
Or will I be trampled by men,
Even before I say, ‘Amen! ’
Whatev’r my fate turns out to be,
Let me serve Thee most happily!
May be, I can’t be thine pot sought;
Though pot I am, I am Thine pot!
Though pot I am, I am Thine pot!
poem by John Celes
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Charlotte Sometimes
All the faces
All the voices blur
Change to one face
Change to one voice
Prepare yourself for bed
The light seems bright
And glares on white walls
All the sounds of charlotte sometimes
Into the night
With charlotte sometimes
Night after night she lay alone in bed
Her eyes so open to the dark
The streets all looked so strange
They seemed so far away
But charlotte sometimes did not cry
The people seemed so close
Playing expressionless games
The people seemed so close
So close
So many
Other names
Sometimes i'm dreaming
Where all the other people dance
Sometimes i'm dreaming
Charlotte sometimes
Sometimes i'm dreaming
Expressionless the trance
Sometimes i'm dreaming
So many different names
Sometimes i'm dreaming
The sounds all stay the same
Sometimes i'm dreaming
She hopes to open shadowed eyes
On a different world
Come to me
Scared princess
Charlotte sometimes
On that bleak track
(see the sun is gone again)
The tears were pouring down her face
She was crying and crying for a girl
Who died so many years before...
Sometimes i dream
Where all the people dance
Sometimes i dream
Charlotte sometimes
Sometimes i dream
The sounds all stay the same
Sometimes i'm dreaming
There are so many different names
Sometimes i dream
Sometimes i dream...
Charlotte sometimes crying for herself
Charlotte sometimes dreams a wall around herself
But it's always with love
With so much love it looks like
Everything else
Of charlotte sometimes
So far away
Glass sealed and pretty
song performed by by Cure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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