‘Six kgs excess,’ said the lady at the check-in With a charming, engaging smile ‘Would you please pay by cash, rupees As the card will take quite awhile?’

I put on my favourite hunted look As the mouse would before (what else?) a cat ‘Could you please waive this once away And have a delighted customer after that?’

She shook her head as she wrote the receipt (The smile was still in its intended place) I paid up a ransom that emptied my wallet (And the blood off my cherubic face).

As I walked ashen, the next man checked in His bag was light; no excess to declare Built like a hulk, all beef, beer and bulk HE was excess baggage; it just wasn’t fair!

I thought for a moment of raising the point That a chap and his bag be together weighed A limit be placed that charges his flab And rewards a guy who slim has stayed……(that’s me!)

But I walked on, poorer, a rebel with a cause Cursing myself as a weakling dimwit. When I reflect on what held me back I guess it was the smile that did it.