May 20, 2013

On the Siting of Bathrooms.

This week Tess prompts the inner writer with this picture "Lighthouse Dandelions" by James Wyeth
























" I wonder what they do all day?"
"You wonder what who do all day, Simpleforth?"
"Lighthouse keepers, sir.  D'you think they play Scrabble? If there's only one of them, maybe they play Patience.  And of course, they have to clean the lenses. That must be fun. D'you think they see distorted reflections of their faces in the lenses? Do you think if they stand in front of the light at night their giant shadow is flung across the sea every time the light comes round?  D'you think they maybe run round and round fast enough so they're always in the path of the beam and their giant shadow gallops across the waves?  That would scare mariners out at sea, I should think.  What do you think, sir?"
"I think perhaps you're rambling again, Simpleforth. Much as it delights the rest of the class . .   can we get back to Wyeth's picture?"
"Sir, where are the toilets?"
"You've been in the school long enough to know the toilets are off the cloakroom . . "
"No sir. The toilets in a lighthouse.  I mean, if they're at the bottom, it's a long way to go, all the way down the stairs if a keeper needs . . . you know, Sir . . . while he's attending to the light. And if they're at the top, where the light is, and the keeper is downstairs . . . that's just as lacking in . . er . . convenience. So to speak. I think this must have been in Wyeth's mind when he painted the dandelions."
"What must have been in his mind when he painted the dandelions?"
"Where to put the toilets, sir."
"Simpleforth - why do you waste one of the best brains in the class on this twaddle?"
"I think Wyeth knew about dandelions and toilets and has united them in a sort of pictorial joke. He's using dandelions on purpose to make us think about . . . . "
"Think about what? You've stopped, Simpleforth?"
"I was just thinking, sir, that Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain" in a patch of dandelions would have made the point better . . . "
(At this point the tannoy beeped for the end of the lesson.  The class began to collect their books and notes and head for the door, Simpleforth leading the way. The Art Master opened his laptop and Googled "Duchamp, fountain" followed by "dandelions."  He read quietly for a while, then smiled.)
"I think the best advice we can give to lighthouse keepers is - don't eat dandelion leaves at bedtime, wherever the toilets are. And no doubt young Simpleforth will continue to surprise us . . . "



15 comments:

  1. Simpleforth gets better and better! Can't wait till he publishes his first Saga Series of Simplefoth Stories. LOL :)

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  2. I think perhaps Simpleforth has gone a bit potty!

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  3. hahaha

    This is great, and so is Other Mary's comment!

    =)

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  4. This is very charming and to be honest I would like to know the answers to his questions ;-P

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  5. I wonder if the descendimg staircase to the toilets leads one below the waterline ? . Greatly enjoyable , FTSe

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  6. You have us all googling and smiling on this one! Hmmm...I wonder where they do put those pottys? Interesting train of thought on this, and a fun story to read.

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    1. Interesting train of thought? Or bizarre? Take yer pick . . .

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  7. Smiles for days on this one! My favorite word? "Cloakroom." Because I remember them.

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  8. And half the class is heading for the cloakroom by now...

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  9. I like Simpleforth, such an enquiring mind. Will you have been built lighthouses next?

    O, I forgot, they’re doing away with them, aren’t they?

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  10. This was tortuously funny! Why I haven't been exposed to Simpleforth before this, I have no idea, but I hope to continue the relationship...Oh my, I needed to laugh, and laugh I did...thank you so much. Oh, and thank you also for stopping by my blog (The Way Eye See It) and commenting earlier; I do appreciate it.

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    1. Thank you for your comment. I feature regularly in Doctor FTSE's blog. Just work backwards through his "Older Posts" I can guarantee you'll find me much more entertaining than Adrian Mole, who is a prat.

      SImpleforth, S. (Upper Fourth)

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  11. Every class should have a Simpleforth - a master of the art of lateral thinking - or casting red herrings.

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  12. I have just discovered Simpleforth. Whizz kid!

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    1. Bee . . apologies. I have "14 day moderation applied" and I didn't find your comment until just now. Thank you for the whizz.

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