Smart Mouth

©copyright 2004 Bonita M Quesinberry, R.C. 022204

She said to me, "Mo—om! Times do change."
"Oh, and when did God this He deign?
Oh, honey, let me tell you how things really be,
and, maybe then you will see.
So, listen for just awhile
about the way men can beguile.
He will say, 'If you loved me, you would.'
But, in truth, if he loved you, he wouldn't."

My teen daughter gaped wide-eyed.
"Oh?" I said, "You've heard that load of tripe?
Well, let me tell you how he croons,
when he's dancin' with you to a sensuous tune.
He hums along and holds you tight,
whispers, 'You're so beautiful tonight.'"

 "His hand slips down below your sash,
and you say, as you move his hand from your ass,
'Hey, buster! Remember this, I've got a waist.
Don't go above it or below, else my fist you will taste!'
For, if you want his respect, then a lady be:
until the right one comes along, your heart kept free."

"But, beware; for his games don't end there.
'I wouldn't buy a pair of shoes,' he might dare,
Without trying them on for proper fit;
nor buy a car without a short test trip:
else, how would we know we are compatible,
if we don't take a ride in the proverbial saddle?'"

"Hear me well, my darling child:
give him what he wants and he's gone in awhile;
but, maintaining your respectability
will increase daily his dependability."
She asked, "So, what say I about shoes and cars,
to keep us both from going that far?"

 I laughed, "Remember well these words I say,
and they will pay off for you some day.
Say to him, "I am not a pair of shoes,
the garbage being their ultimate dues;
Nor am I a car to treat with frivolous guard,
for it's definitely destined to a junk yard."

She gapes at me again in a flash.
"What? You've already heard this load of trash?"
Then she whines, "But, if I don't give in,
every one says I'll be a has been!"
So I said, "True, abiding love comes only once;
you must choose well or be called a cunt."

"If he cannot stay around forever,
because you won't go along with his endeavor;
then, he is not the one for you:
and, that would never, never do.
So, set your price high: having him duly sign
his commitment to you on the bottom line."

"In the beginning, a man either loves your body or you:
the first will wane with time, the latter remain true blue.
To God's values hold on with all your might,
and He will bring the man who is right;
thus, there will be love and passion,
all in an orderly fashion."

"Listen not to the taunts of your peers,
for their way brings many tears;
also, illegitimate children or painful divorce,
yet they call it a natural course.
Hold fast, stand up tall and straight;
and in the end, you'll enter heaven's gate."

 "Remember this. I heard all those lines before you,
and your grandmother and great grandmother did, too.
Since the beginning, man had the right to ask,
but yours is the right to take him to task.
Show him you are worthy of his ring
before your virginal bridal fling."

* * * * *  

When my daughter was 14— she's 40 today— we actually had this conversation. Interestingly, what brought it about was her unexpected request for birth control pills: "All my friends' mothers are getting the pill for them. I looked at her and said, "If you choose to play the game, you will pay the price; for there is no way I will give you a license to sin against God and the Holy Spirit." I paused, then added, "Now, is there another reason you think you should have those pills? Like, have you and Rex become sexually active." She responded, "No, but he says if I loved him, I would." Thus, the above conversation ensued. As a teenager— once all those eons ago— I had a reputation among the boys as having a smart mouth, just because of the above responses I gave Maria; yet everyone of those boys would defend me to the hilt if anyone said something bad about me. It's called gaining respect, not so much by what you say, but more by what you will and will not do: the values you project in your everyday behaviour and attitude. Perhaps, this little ditty will help another young lady who is at a crossroad in her relationship with a young man.