“Mummy,” queries Oliver, “What does serendipity mean?”

“Let me see your teeth, Ollie. Are you sure you brushed them clean?”

“Well?” persists the little lad as she rushes him out the door.

Words like that, she thinks to herself, should be against the law!

 

She chats about the day ahead, his attention goes astray.

But now it all comes back to him as they are on their way.

“Mummy,” queries Oliver, “What does serendipity mean?”

“Look at the apples on that stall! Aren’t they the best you’ve seen?”

 

“SERENDIPITY!” he hollers. And for such a little lad

It’s a wonder he can say it. Her conscience pricks her bad.

“Serendipity? Well, it means –”  And Oliver’s eyes grow round.

Surely Mum knows everything. What is this he may have found?

“Now how can I best explain it?” she ponders as well she might.

Reaching the school gates, she says, “Darling, I’ll tell you tonight.”

 

Hurrying off to the factory, with not a minute to spare,

Time with a dictionary or a computer would be rare.

Research must wait until tonight. Lets hope he has forgotten

And does not ask any sooner or she will feel rotten.

 

A single mother out of work, she had been at quite a loss

Till she took this job last month and fell in love with the boss.

She’d almost missed the interview, he almost took another.

Now on a fifth romantic lunch they're perfect for each other.

 

“Imagine if you hadn’t come.” He speaks with sincerity.

“Our love is such a happy chance, it's serendipity!”

Ah, now she has the definition! It's happy circumstance.

She can tell her son at once.  And she’s found it quite by chance!