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Mistaken Identity

"Hello, Louise," he said to me.
I smiled and nodded, though I'm not she.
"And how's your mother," he then said.
I guessed he didn't know she's dead.
I said, "I think she's doing well."
(With dead mothers it's hard to tell)
"I'm glad to hear it," he said to me.
"She is such a fine lady.
Did you and Ted enjoy your cruise?"
I could not keep up the ruse.

"I think you have made a mistake.
I'm not Louise, I'm Linda Lake.
I'm afraid my mother's dead
And I don't know any Ted.
I've never been on such a trip
As fancy as a sailing ship.
But thank you for your kind concern
That I must now return.
I hope your mother is okay.
As for Louise's sea foray,
I'm sure she had a wonderful time.
Cruises are so sublime."
At that he blushed and turned his head
And hopped onto his blue moped.
Away he motored down the road
I assume to his abode.
I turned and saw a dear old friend
Coming from around the bend.
I smiled and waved and called her name.
"How are you, Susan?" I did exclaim.
"I'm alright," she said with doubt
After she had looked about.
"I haven't seen you in so long.
Remember when we played mah jong?"
She shook her head and looked unsure
In her elegant couture.
Then gently she revealed the truth.
She was not Susan, she was Ruth.

Learn more about this author, Toni McKilligan.
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