Tell me a story, Abby said to her dad
It can be scary, but don’t make it sad.
The story was told in the dark of the night
With Abby’s stuffed bear, clutched ever-so-tight.
There once was a city with great beauty and might
A must-see destination, a wondrous sight.
The city soon flourished, people wanted to stay
A place to call home, a safe haven for play.
Hard work and ambition, these traits were the rule
Pride in home ownership and freedom…..the fuel.
Good fortune short-lived, a shadow was cast
The PAB had arrived and destruction was fast.
Abby’s eyes grew wide, the story at peak
“What is a “PAB?”--“Is it some kind of freak?”
“Political Arrogant Bully” said dad with a smirk
These tyrants took office and in darkness they lurk.
PABs steal from people through taxes and fines
And redistribute wealth to the welfare lines.
Small businesses fail because of PAB’s rules
And are replaced by gangs and drug mules.
Pedophiles abound, crime is at high
Buildings are boarded, people don’t try.
And just when the people could stand no more
The small blue totes arrived at their door.
Chips on the totes to keep track of their waste
Garbage police and salaries established with haste.
People’s cries are not heard, PABs do as they please
Forced to keep rotting trash, people now wheeze.
Water pipes are frozen, unable to keep clean
Forced water meters, illness to be seen.
“This story’s sure scary.” Abby did speak
“But I feel sad that the people were weak.”
“To the contrary” said dad with a smile across face
“People had enough, and put PABs in their place”
They voted them out and took back their city
Leaving the people dancing and giddy.
The above story is fictional. Any resemblance to people alive or dead is purely coincidental.