The Donut Shop

(For many years, Mr Bill's Donut Shop was an institution in Tarpon Springs. Several years ago, at the age of 80 Mr Bill decided to sell out. The new owner's were not successful, and the business folded.)

Mr Bill's in the morning, was the place to be at dawning,
that's where all the heavy palaver was going down.
If you wanted to know who, where, when, why, and what for,
it was the virtual encyclopedia of this town

Each morning the pundits did gather, in their august manner,
to ponder the great questions of the day.
Did the Rays win last night, will they give the Yankees a fight,
and is Walmart really here to stay?

On any given day, the cast of characters might have included,
ex-pols, shipwrights, fish mongers, Greek chefs, psychologists,
cosmetologists, sponge clippers, pate nippers( barbers),

mechanics of assorted types,

and a variety of jack's-of-all-trades.

So with this much expertise, the free advice you received
was worth exactly what you paid.

Cathy served the coffee, while Ned and Blaine conspired

to keep the pot boiling.
They loved to give Cathy the needle,

while she was toiling.

On occasion, there were some hot words flying,
and if looks could kill, there would have been some dying.
But no bodies ever hit the floor.
It was all in fun, no one got sore(usually).

As for Mr Bill, he tended to remain quiet and mostly still.
He spoke softly, so when he tried to get a word in,
he could rarely be heard above the prevailing din.

So while the Donut Shop is no more,
it will remain part of the local lore.