Mr Leonard would come around on a Friday evening
With the groceries that Mum had ordered.
A man of gentle humour and polite manner.
He sat at the table notebook in hand,
Where Mum paid what was owed,
And gave next week’s order.
Then take his leave with a cheery wave,
And a “See you next week”.
Twice a week, or maybe three,
The baker would knock at the door.
Stood there with his basket
Full of fresh bread and rolls,
And this new-fangled sliced bread already wrapped.
The quote of “Best thing since sliced bread”
Is so wrong, sliced bread is not good
Compared to a fresh baked loaf.
One day he came and nobody answered,
So he went around the back.
I went out to see why the dog was barking;
And there was the baker
Pinned in a corner. with Prince, our boxer,
Licking his face!
The Corona man used to come,
Where Mum would buy pop
For my brother and me,
Enough to last the week,
Until the man returned with some more.
There on the steps every morning
Stood the milk in bottles with silver tops;
There without fail,
It appeared as if by magic.
But occasionally if I was up early
I would see him,
This man in a silent van,
Creeping towards our door.
A crate in his hand,
And a cheery smile on his face.
Then on a Friday he would come
To collect his money.
These men who knew all in the street,
And knew when something was wrong.
Many a time it has been known
That they have saved lives,
As the milk was not taken in. **
A breed of man that has now been lost.
The last regular caller of course
Was the man from the Pru.
Collecting money in case of death,
And my brother and I would be cared for,
If Mum and Dad passed away.
All these regular callers,
So polite, seemingly so benevolent,
To us kids.
They would chat to us,
Make us laugh and smile,
Never a word in anger or remorse.
A time no longer with us,
A sadness of people no longer
Communicating with each other.
**I have experience of this, a friend of my mother-in-law was unwell and her milk was not taken off the step so the milkman raised the alarm – she was saved because of the milkman. When was the last time you saw a milkman?