This one's for Julia

This edition is dedicated to Julia, whose spirit is sweet.

Once upon a time, there were many sisters.

There was Abby, and Ella and Julia and more.
Indeed, when all told, there were sisters galore.
The family kept growing til we couldn't keep track.
Though some tried to escape and oh yes, that's a fact.

After Abby had fallen and was kept in traction,
the sisters gathered round, prepared to take action.
Ella and Olivia got out of doing the work,
sometimes, the pair can really be jerks.
So in came sweet Julia to tend to her needs.
She worked up a sweat she went at such speed.

But who knew that Abby's need were so extensive.
The shopping alone, was getting expensive.
So although Julia was sick she tended to Abby.
She smiled on days when Abby was crabby.

She cleaned the kitchen and scoured the pots.
She scrubbed the floor and removed all the spots.
She picked up the mail and parcels from Sears.
She tended the wound and coped with the fears.

Somehow she did this, all with a smile.
Julia always did manage to go the extra mile.
It started off innocently enough.
The one day, last week, the going got tough.

She had picked up the groceries, the mail and more.
She took out the trash and vacuumed the floor.
And then Abby said, "Oh dear sister, could I give you one more chore?"
Julie nodded and smiled and said "that's what I'm here for."

Abby said, "there's just a bit of laundry, if you don't mind."
And that's when poor Julia found herself in a bind.
So Julie went down the steep and crooked stair case - 57 steps in all.
She clutched her heart and tried not to fall.

The laundry was piled almost to the roof
Just look in her closet if you need any proof.
She sorted and prewashed the delicate cloth.
She hauled the water and filled up the trough.

It took her 6 days, and as many nights.
But finally Julia had won the fight.
She toted the clothes up the 57 steps.
Though at this point she was all out of pep.

And Abby smiled sweetly and said, one more thing.
"Could you iron my pyjamas?"

And that's when the shit hit the fan and Julia stomped out and got in her car and drove off. Last we heard she was spotted near Regina and was heading south. If you see her please tell her it was just a joke and there's rice pudding waiting for her if she comes home.