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Hopelesss
For Mackenzie Davis' "I'd Read Your Grocery List" Challenge
Every Friday - September
Bread, 2 loaves, preferrably as cheap as possible, the supermarket's own value range.
Milk, full fat, because who cares
Bacon, cheap offcuts and mismatched rashers, lots of grissle and fat, because protein
Eggs x 12, free range (Will need to switch to caged, the price is astronomicall)
Cola, not Coca-Cola, it's not your birthday, after all, cheapest non-branded black-coloured soda
Microwaveable pasta dinners x 7, serves 1, because what is the point in cooking when you're alone
Cheese, just plain old mild, flavourless, hopelesss cheddar, cheaper the better
Apples x 7, to keep the doctor away, not that anyone really comes near me, these days
Toilet paper, 1-ply, 2-roll pack. That's the good thing about not eating very much, no waste
Lager, 4-pack of the cheapest stuff I can find, because we all need a treat at the end of the week
Paracetamol (just 2 packs, due to sales regulations) Not to worry, I don't use them anyway
Every Friday - October
Bread, 2 loaves, preferrably as cheap as possible, the supermarket's own value range.
Milk, full fat, because who cares
Bacon, cheap offcuts and mismatched rashers, lots of grissle and fat, because protein
Eggs x 12, free range caged (who cares about free range, when they ask for so much more)
Cola, not Coca-Cola, it's not your birthday, after all, cheapest non-branded black-coloured soda
Microwaveable undistinguishable meat dinners x 7, serves 1, because alone
Cheese, just plain old mild, flavourless, hopelesss like me cheddar, cheaper the better
Apples x 7, to keep the doctor away
Toilet paper, 1-ply, 2-roll pack. That's the good thing about not eating very much, no waste
Lager, 4-pack of the cheapest stuff I can find, because we all need a treat at the end of the week
Condoms x 6-pack (Because you never know) Who are you kidding?
Paracetamol (just 2 packs, due to sales regulations) Not to worry, I don't use them anyway
Every Friday - November
Bread, 2 loaves, preferrably as cheap as possible, the supermarket's own value range.
Milk, full fat, because who cares
Bacon, cheap offcuts and mismatched rashers, lots of grissle and fat, because protein
Eggs x 12, caged (who cares about free range)
Cola, not Coca-Cola, it's not your birthday, after all, cheapest non-branded black-coloured soda
Microwaveable pasta dinners x 7, serves 1, so alone
Cheese, just plain old mild, flavourless, hopelesss empty cheddar, cheaper the better
Bananas x 7, to mix things up a little
Toilet paper, 1-ply, 2-roll pack. That's the good thing about not eating very much, no waste
Lager, 4-pack of the cheapest stuff I can find, because we all need a treat at the end of the week
Paracetamol (just 2 packs, due to sales regulations) Not to worry, I don't use them anyway
Every Friday - December
Bread, 2 loaves, preferrably as cheap as possible, the supermarket's own value range.
Milk, full fat, because who cares
Turkey bacon, cheap offcuts and mismatched rashers, lots of grissle and fat, because Christmas protein
Eggs x 12, caged (who cares)
Cheap Vodka, not Smirnoff, it's not your birthday, after all
Microwaveable Christmas dinners x 7, serves 1, because tis the season
Cheese, just plain old mild, flavourless, hopelesss my life cheddar, cheaper the better
Mince pies x 7, fruit, right? to keep the doctor away, because we all need a treat at Christmas
Toilet paper, 1-ply, 2-roll pack.
Cider, 4-pack of the cheapest stuff I can find, because we all need a treat at Christmas
Paracetamol (just 2 packs, due to sales regulations) Not to worry, I don't use them anyway
***** Local Council Receipt
1 x Pauper's funeral (05/01/22)
1 x Death Certificate
NB no next of kin and no will or estate to speak of.
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: This is my second entry for Mackenzie's Challenge, which you can read about here:
Remember, tomorrow is always another day.
It's also never too late to check in with friends, relatives and neighbours, especially if you know they are having a hard time (and even if you don't know)
Helpful Resources
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Scottish-Italian poet/writer from Glasgow.
Overflowing in English language torture and word abuse.
"Every man has a sane spot somewhere" R.L Stevenson
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection is now available!
https://paulspoeticprints.etsy.com
Keep reading
More stories from Paul Stewart and writers in Poets and other communities.
Comments (8)
Cleverly written… so tragic. Thanks for listing helplines.
I noticed the paracetamol straight away! What a hopeless build-up to the end, a very admirable description of functional depression. Nicely written!
It took me TOO LONG to notice the significance of the Paracetamol, and when I tell you the moment I realized it, my entire brain got sharper, and I honed in on the other items, OMG, PAUL! You are the poet GOAT! Wow. Talk about using repetition and small changes to completely embody the speaker's mental state. The cheese, too, just, amazing. Wow. WOW! I absolutely adore this!!! I feel like this challenge was made for you. 🤯💗
Well done!!!!
The bananas were a plot twist, lol! Also, the seeds from 18 apples is enough to kill a person. So always have apples hehehehe. Loved your poem! 🍩🥐
Haunting!
Sounds & feels familiar.
Heartbreaking 🤍 Never got the Paracetamol 'law'. I mean what muppet thought that up like..."Oooooo I'm intent on overdosing. Oh shit I can't superdrug'll only give me two packets, can't now" Serously? Um just walk across the road to Poundland. By the time you've walked the highstreet you could have a backpack full of pills. Anyway. Sorry. Nicely done but so tragically closr to some poeple's truth 🤍