Timothy wakes at morning light
To prepare his master's toast
And prepare the daily wash
And the day's post

He sees the parcel slide beneath the door
Which casually he secures
He reads the note within his head
Such tasks he must endure

At eight past noon he has a task
To make a weird exchange
A man's arm for a secret note
This is getting strange

He tells his master he's feeling ill
And perhaps may have a viral
For if he told the master true
It would throw him for a spiral

He bids farewell and takes his leave
He travels to the spot
And watches as a man taps his foot
He can see him getting hot

At eight past noon, Tim dives from on high
And takes the arm as pay
And watches as the man screams
As a new arm makes way

He apologizes quickly though
He's been warned this man can't die
And he's nearly twice his size
But looks like he might cry

He relays the message true
And hands the man the prize
Then he turns and takes a leap
As the man just blinks his eyes

He hopes the man is worth the time
It has taken for the group
To search, observe, and recruit
To help his little troop

He enters the bar at five till ten
And watches from afar
As the bartender mixes a couple ales
They start shining like a star

He knows now the man is true
And quickly makes his move
To bring a glass to each of two friends
Who nearly lost their groove

As he watches two friends drink
The age and wounds fade from their face
They stand and make their exit
As three heroes thank an ace.

The man is trusted and quite skilled
He knows this for a fact
Maybe next he can join with him
In yet another pact

Before Timothy returns to his quarters
He asks of his friends a boon
"Can you write me a physician's note
Beginning around noon"

They all smile and have a laugh
As Foster passes a note so blue
"Take two and return to work tomorrow
24-hour FLU"

Geoffrey Shelton
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