I don't have a witty title yet...any suggestions?

"That's it!" Mother cried "No more fighting, I'm through!"
She pulled out the broom, "I've got chores for you!"

"I'd love to" said one, "I'd love to" said two
but the third girl just pouted, and angry she grew.
"Chores are not fun! There's no job I'll do!"
and she sat in the corner until they were through.

The dishes were washed and the windows were wiped,
while the third girl, she moaned and she groaned and she griped.

"Give us MORE chores" said the two, "we are having such fun!"
the third little girl stalled until they were done.

The pencils were sharpened, the old pens thrown out
the third watched the fun and began to pout.

"Hey! Why do THEY get to have fun and not me?!"
"Don't pout." said the Mother, "I've enough jobs for three."

They swept and they put all the laundry away
and then when it came to the end of the day
Mother handed each of the three girls a cup.
"If you helped with the dishes, please put your hand up."

Up went hand one, and up went hand two
"I have three M&M's for each of you!"

"If you helped with the windows, please put your hand up."
again, the third girl got none for her cup.

"I did the pencils!" and "I did the pens!"
and more M&M's were passed out to her friends

Finally, Three realized what hard work will do
"Mom, I helped brother this morning for you."

"That's right!" said the mother, "I appreciated that,
but you missed out on candy while being a brat."

"If I finish a job, can I have candy, too?
Can I clean up a mess? Do the dishes for you?"

"I'm sorry, the dishes are already done
You missed out on candy----"

---"But WE'LL give you some!"

And so the lesson on work ethic flew
out the window as candies were shared by the two
with selfish little Three, the Mother's own daughter!
More important, the lesson that One and Two taught her:

That true friends will always watch out for each other
and help you to deal with your stubborn old Mother.

Meg Willardson
2009