There was a little old chinaman. Who had a shop on the corner of two streets. where I used to go as a kid every saturday. To spend my pocket money on some sweets. He would use an abacus. With different coloured beads. In places where some was missing. He had replaced them with senna pod seeds. To him every bead was a penny. But to me it was one less sweet. Oh the battle of wills we used to have. In that shop on the corner of two streets. First I would make my selection. Then on the counter put them down. The beads would then zip along the wire. Making a click click clicking sound. I would anxiously watch him. As his finger flicked the beads along the rail. To him every bead was a penny earned. But to me it was one more chocolate whirl. I would change my mind a dozen times. Just trying to get on top. But I never did beat that abacus. To get that extra lollipop. That Chinamans shop is no longer there. On that corner of two streets. It is now a womens dress shop. That does not sell any kind of sweets. But I regularly pass that corner. When I am on my way to town. And I always think of that abacus. With its click click clicking sound. Copyright useless poet 2006
