Half past ten

Was precisely when

An alarm sounded in a duck’s head.

And that duck was Beans

Who was, so it seems

A duck whose fame is widespread.

Each day little Beans

Would search for a means

To escape the doings of the pond.

So he’d head to the kiosk

For a pineapple brioche

Of which, he was particularly fond.

As the clock struck the half

He set off down the path

Towards his favourite café.

The morning was sunny

His pockets had money

And nothing could ruin his day.

He walked through the playground

And passed a big dirt mound

That children would ride their bikes over.

Some kids riding near

Didn't see Beans or hear

Him quack when he was almost run over.

Although a bit dazed

Beans wasn't fazed

He picked up the pace — and then,

He ran into Matt

The big water rat

And together they set off again.

Where the track meets the grass

Lots of people walk past

And the kiosk sits welcoming and proud

But it wasn’t too long

Before they sensed something wrong

'Cos where was the mid-morning crowd?

As they got near

They started to hear

A sobbing from inside the shop.

"What's all this?"

Beans said to Chris

Who owned the kiosk called 'Plop'.

"Oh Beans, I'm distraught

I'd just never thought

The council would close down my café.

They're tearing it down

There'll be no place around

For an espresso and ice-cream sundae."

"Well, I'm not having this,"

Beans said to Chris

He was one angry little duck.

"What on earth will we do

For our mid-morning brew?"

Said Matt who was also dumbstruck.

“We’ve got to stop it

C’mon Matt, let’s hop it”

Said Beans as they raced off to scheme.

With military precision

They took on a mission

To save the kiosk by any means.

The next morning at five

The wrecking crew arrived

To begin the kiosk's demolition.

They never thought that

A duck and a rat

Could offer such strong opposition.

Throughout the day

Beans and Matt found ways

To block, disrupt and surprise.

Until the foreman said, "Stop!

We won't knock down Plop

If it means so much to you guys.”

“Thank goodness,” said Beans

“You don't know what it means

For us pond folk to have a café.”

And the foreman named Jack

Was taken aback

When the duck had something to say.

Beans saw his eyes pop

And watched his jaw drop

As Jack started shaking his head.

"Is this some kind of joke?

That duck just spoke!"

But Beans held up a wing and said...

“This café called Plop

Is a great little shop

Come back and you’ll soon see.

It's famous for cakes

And Chris has what it takes

To make fabulous coffee and tea.”

Beans was quite pleased

And a little relieved

When the wrecking crew finally fled.

He went looking for Chris

Who was shaking his fist

Then sadly, just lowered his head.

“That’s that,” said Matt

“They won't be back

Now they know what our café means.

Let's clean up this mess

‘Cos I have to confess

I fancy a coffee ... you Beans?”

But Chris said, “No.

I just want to go

Back to Rome to live with my sister.

This place is a mess

And I can’t take the stress

Of being everyone’s favourite barista.”

Beans looked at Matt

The big water rat

Who told Beans, “I can’t believe this.”

And as Chris walked away

From the kiosk that day

He waved and blew them a kiss.

Right then Beans knew

Just what he should do

To get Plop up and running once more.

An idea was gelling

And Beans started yelling

“I’ve got it!” As he went through the door.

He needed a phone

To call ‘can-do’ Ramone

And share his vision with his friend.

Then the three together

Figured out whether

They could open the café again.

Now Ramone is the man

If you have a great plan

To help it come into fruition.

When he heard Bean’s idea

It became quite clear

He could help the duck with his mission.

And so, two weeks later,

Matt’s the new waiter

In the cafe renamed ‘Pond Vista’.

There’s cakes topped with toffee

And wonderful coffee

Now made by Beans the barista.

The End

©Copyright Steve Williss 2018