2960. The punishment fits the crime
© Bruce Goodman 10 January 2024


Ms Flounce: Now children today is a special day for the class because it’s Tommy’s sixth birthday. I want you all to sit in a circle on the floor and hold hands. Together we are going to recite the nursery rhyme we leant off by heart yesterday.

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.
She gave them some broth without any bread;
Then whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed.


You will notice, children, that her husband should have worn a condom as we have talked about and drawn pictures for the fridge all last week. But notice too that she whipped the little children. This should no longer happen. We are more enlightened. Yes, Tommy, you have a question?

Tommy: Yes Miss. If the old woman gave her children broth without any bread, what about a balanced diet that included bioactives like quercetin, resveratrol, catechins, anthocyanins, lutein, lycopene and beta-carotene?

Ms Flounce: Well who’s a clever little know-all? I don’t listen easily to a smarty-pants. You speak a load of tripe. Do you know what this is? It’s my husband’s leather belt. Stand up and bend over.

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