BEASTLY TALES

THE TWIN WIN

It was the war, people were being shot,
Summarily shot by a vicious enemy, a lot.
The slightest infraction of their dumb rules,
Could result in being shot by those fools!
Sometimes they would arbitrarily choose,
Men from the village for firing squad use.
Men who had no participation in the matter at hand,
Randomly selected to be shot, a last stand!
To be shot for retribution for some other’s deed.
Such despicable behaviour that enemy did heed.

Andreas ran a Greek Cafe’.
To his customers, he always had much to say.
The enemy officers would come for coffee and wine,
And some other money making ventures Andreas could define.
He developed an association with Captain Gruber,
Andreas played the trumpet, Gruber the tuba.
Over time, they put on some shows.
Entrancing the audience, while the wine flows.
One day, Andreas fell foul of an enemy General,
“You vill be shot! Your days are ephemeral!”
So pronounced that nasty fat slob,
Always pronouncing vileness, while stuffing his gob.
Captain Gruber was to be Officer Presiding.
His friend Andreas, what a harsh chiding!
He must do something spectacular to save him,
So that death would in no way enslave him.
He arranged for blanks to be issued to the squad members.
They were from his command during Septembers.

Gruber had already briefed Andreas as to the plot.
But still Andreas was nervous a lot!
“As they fire, you must fall back against the wall.”
“But make sure they fire first, before you fall.”
Came that fateful day, Gruber looked most dire.
As he called out loudly, “Ready, Aim, Fire!”
Andreas collapsed back against the wall,
Slipping to the ground as he did fall.

Now Andreas, reinstated behind his bar,
Saw Gruber walk in, he hadn’t walked far.
Said Andreas, “If the General walks in, what do I say?”
Gruber responded, “It is known your twin brother will run the cafe’.”
Andreas, looking uncertainly at Gruber,
Who tended to look more severe, when not playing the tuba.
“Will it work? I don’t want to stress my health!”
“Of course it will, you look exactly like yourself!”