The Shrimp Seller's Tale

[Andre DeCuir]

     My neighbor Shirley stopped by before going to work, selling shrimp in a stand on the side of the road, a business which wasn't doing too well because of  that gulf oil spill.

    "Oh Delia,  this man," Shirley said, "who bought some shrimp from me last week stopped by to complain."

     "Dat mess o' shrimp you sol' me the other day taste the oil!"

    "I'm sorry you had to throw it all out sir."

     "Mais no, I didn't throw it away, I ate it all!"

     What could we do but roll our eyes, have another cup of coffee, and think back to a time when those white fishing boats were lined up in blue-gray water, somehow looking  like fresh sheets billowing in the summer sun.

[Joey Delgado]

I like the thrid line. Good use of local dialect. :)