The Ballad of Freddy the Fork

After the family ate dinner that night,
Freddy the fork was filled with delight.

Now came the fun part of Freddy’s day
He was put in the dishwasher with no farther delay.

He loved the dishwasher, his favorite machine
Because it made him shiny, sparkly clean

But there was one problem. The mom was tired, not fully awake.
So she made one little, tiny mistake.

She stuck poor Freddy upside down, next to Billy the plate.
Freddy tried to warn her, but it was to late.

Now every time Billy or Freddy moved
A loud scrape was inevitable as time would soon prove.

They squirmed and they squirmed but there was no escape
The piercing noise just got louder, SCRAPE SCRAPE SCRAPE!

“You’re scratching my paint!” Billy whined.
“You’re bending my metal!” Freddy cried. 

What to do? What to do? They thought and they thought
Meanwhile the scraping left the cups rather distraught.


They cried and they moaned,
The spoons sighed and groaned

The cups were jumping, and hitting the top
When the old wise spatula said, “Everybody STOP!”

“Everyone be quiet! Stop going berserk.
“I have an idea, and it just might maybe work.

Freddy asked, “What’s your idea, old Spatula the Wise?”
“If we all work together we’ll get you out,” he replied.

“Everyone move to the right!” Spatula said taking charge.
“But Billy the Plate, remain where you are!”

“On my count everyone must heave!”
“Fork will get out, if we only believe!”

“One, two, three!” They heaved and they shoved.
“Jump now, Fork!” cried Spatula.

Freddy the Fork twisted and turned
But he was wedged in so firm!

“We believe in you, Freddy!” The cups and spoons cried.
“Suck in your bottom pieces. You still have to try!”

So Freddy made himself small, as small as can be
Then leaped away from Billy, giggling with glee.

“We did it fork!” said Billy the Plate,
“Now we’re both upright, perfectly straight.”

The utensils and cups, the dishes and spoons
Were all proud and happy, and the dishwasher would start soon.

After the rinsing, and drying routine
Everyone was put away, shiny and clean.